Godrej Agrovet to foray into micro-irrigation business

MUMBAI: Godrej Agrovet Limited (GAVL), a Godrej Industries company, plans to enter the micro-irrigation business by setting up a new subsidiary.

"We have big expansion plans for our agriculture business under GAVL. Under GAVL, we are soon planning to foray into micro-irrigation business, including drip irrigation, by forming a new subsidiary," Godrej Industries Chairman Adi Godrej said here.

The new subsidiary will be formed this fiscal year, he added.

The size of the market for micro irrigation systems, which involve drip and sprinkler irrigation, is around Rs 3,000 crore in India.

Meanwhile, GAVL has formed a subsidiary, Godrej Seeds and Genetics Limited (GSGL), which will serve as its vehicle for entering the hybrid seed business in the country.

GSGL, to be based in Hyderabad, will focus on three major crop seeds -- maize, paddy and bajra -- for distribution in states like Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Karnataka and Maharashtra and will handles all existing hybrid seed sales and breeding activities previously managed by Godrej Agrovet.

"We believe the future of the Indian seed industry is still being written. Despite the presence of multinational players, there remains tremendous scope for introducing superior germplasm to Indian farmers. For a few years now, we have been working quietly in this space and we are ramping up our efforts for a major commercial debut," GAVL Managing Director Balram Singh Yadav said.

GAVL is a diversified agri-business company having interests in animal feed, oil palm plantation, agri-inputs and poultry.

Its sales jumped by 40 per cent in the first quarter of FY2011-12, its best-ever first quarter performance, vis-a-vis the first quarter of FY'11.

Meanwhile, speaking on the potential of the agri-businesses, Godrej observed they have reported strong growth in revenues and profits owing to robust demand for products across business segments.

All of GAVL's business verticals, including oil palm, agri-inputs and animal feeds, are poised to deliver significant growth, he said.

The oil palm business has been an outperformer during the quarter, with maturing plantations yielding higher output, Godrej said, adding that GAVL also has new products in the pipeline for FY2011-12.

Meanwhile, Godrej Industries' consolidated net profit grew by 46.34 per cent to Rs 71.33 crore in the first quarter of FY'12, compared to Rs 48.74 crore in the corresponding quarter of the previous year.