Chennai-based crop protection and plant nutrition company Tropical Agrosystem (India) Pvt Ltd (Tropical Agro) plans to focus on an organic range of products based on seaweed and microbes.
“We will use local biodiversity to develop these products. These solutions will add value to the soil microbiome. They will be crucial to exploit the yield potential of indigenous farming systems,” said VK Jhaver, Chairman of Tropical Agro.
Founded in 1969 as part of the privately held ‘The Jhaver Group’, the company’s products will include biostimulants based on seaweed and some other plant nutrients in an easy-to-use formulation that is FCO (Fertilizer Control Order) compliant.
VK Jhaver, Chairman, Tropical Agriculture Company
Biostimulant patent
The Chennai-based company obtained a NASA patent for the biostimulant ingredient and its preparation method earlier this year and has established a separate vertical to facilitate the export of its products.
“In the past, our focus has been more on India and we are currently exporting to a few countries in West Asia, West Africa and Brazil. However, starting in 2022, we have established a separate vertical that focuses exclusively on export,” says Jhaver .
Since the company’s products are agricultural inputs, it has sought permission from governments as part of its plans to enter new territories.
The chair of tropical agriculture at NASA said biostimulants are used to improve the yield and quality of all crops. “It increases tolerance to stress and is safe for humans, animals, non-target organisms, and the environment,” he said.
2011 reorganization
This product leaves no residue and is compatible with chemical pesticides and fertilizers. The biostimulant can be used on all crops including cereals, wheat, rice, sugar cane, cotton, oilseeds, legumes, vegetables, fruit crops and plantation crops.
Millions of farmers are using the product, which was commercialized in May 2012, the company’s chairman said, adding, “many patented products are in the pipeline and are in various stages of development.”
Although Tropical Agro started its journey in 1969, it was not until 2011 that the company rationalized its product portfolio and restructured the organization.
“Some of our key initiatives include venturing into bio-organic farming solutions, launching new verticals in residue-free farming, increasing plant nutrition and post-harvest verticals, establishing global partnerships, strengthening our national distribution network, and improving our supply chain through marketing partnerships. efficiency,” said the company’s chairman.
A Pioneer in Seed Coating Technology
Today, the company has an effective farm-to-consumer value chain reaching more than 80 million farmers through 20,000 dealers and retail partners, more than 4,000 field assistance personnel and 1,100 employees.
Tropical Agro has established seven state-of-the-art manufacturing plants including Sikandrabad in Uttar Pradesh, Coimbatore and Ambattur on the outskirts of Chennai, both located in Tamil Nadu. Other units are located in Bangalore in Karnataka, Sanand in Gujarat, Kishangarh in Rajasthan and Loni in Ghaziabad in Uttar Pradesh. All seven companies produce formulations ranging from insecticides to insecticides, fungicides to biostimulants, biofertilizers and biocontrol agents.
The company has more than 300 technical products and more than 270 product formulas, and is the pioneer of rhizobia biofertilizer seed coating technology in China.
Tropical Agro also has two R&D centers and is one of the top 5 brands in Indian agriculture with a consolidated turnover of US$147 million, making it the third largest in crop protection and plant nutrition.
