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Sri Gundavaram V. Bhaskar Rao, Chairman and the Managing Director, Kaveri Seed Company Ltd., Andhra Pradesh is a technocrat with business acumen. Agricultural family background and nurtured interest in farming destined him to become a graduate in Agriculture from College of Agriculture of the Andhra Pradesh Agricultural University now ANGRAU, Hyderabad in the year 1974.
As a seed entrepreneur, Sri Rao was instrumental to startup seed production programme of public bred hybrids & varieties of corn, bajra, sunflower and paddy in family owned farmland. In a couple of years time, established a seed processing plant to augment quality seed production with brand name of a proprietary concern- G.V.B Rao & Company. It soon became a partnership concern with MNCs producing contract quality seed. In a step wise accretion, the company grew over the years under his stewardship and registered as Kaveri Seed Company Pvt. Ltd. in 1986.The growth in seed business of Kaveri expanded the scope of the Company not only to produce and market seeds but also other agri-products – micronutrients, plant growth regulators biofertilizers and biopesticides. Both seed and agri-products of Kaveri brand carved a niche in the Indian market. Within two decades, Kaveri Seed Company scaled new heights in seed and agribusiness and became a listed Company in the year 2007. The company’s image received a big boost by figuring in “Forbes Asia Best Under A Billion – The region’s Top 200 Small & Midsize Companies. It did hatrick by re-enlisting successively by Forbes in 2011 and 2012 too .The leadership in Sri Rao won recognition by the fellow seeds men of A.P and he was elected as President of AP. Seedsmen Association for two consecutive terms
Q1) What are your company’s future plans?
Kaveri Seed Company is committed to march ahead in its core seed and agri- product business. The company has plans to consolidate recently established lead in cotton, pearl millet and maize and carve a niche in vegetable seed and export market .It also intends to scale up their position in rice and sunflower Hybrid rice with huge market potential is the next major attraction for the Company’s business. The company’s thrust is on “Development of Biotic resistant Rice through conjunct use of Bio and Hybrid technologies” and “Marker-assisted dissection of genetic basis of yield and improving yield potential under drought stress in Maize”. The Company is laying emphasis on high value olericulture by way of protective cultivation of premium vegetables and culinary herbs. KEXVEG (Kaveri Exotic Vegetables) is our initiative in this direction.
Q2) What are your new products?
The company reins enviably in its product portfolio – both in number and performance. The Company’s premier BT cotton hybrids – Jaadoo, Jackpot, ATM, singha & Barood bajra hybrids -Super Boss & Fouzi are now in the forefront of seed market and in the farmer’s fields. Sampada (red gram) Sampoorna, Super Sona & KPH 9090 (paddy) have created niche markets. Based on National Evaluation process, the ICAR has identified Company’s maize hybrids -KMH 25K60, KMH 3712 KMH 218+ and KMH 3426 Four paddy hybrids excelled in National trials In a similar vein, X 563 (Bajra) and KSH 950 (Jowar) are the hybrids of promise and likely to hit the market soon. In Sunflower the hybrids Sunkranti, and Champ are in the demand in rain fed and irrigated areas. Success has also been achieved in vegetable breeding; Significant progress has been made in breeding for yellow vein mosaic virus (YVMV) resistant okra hybrids.
Q3) How has this season been for your company?
Since KSCL is committed to quality at different stages of production, testing and processing, the demand for its products is on the rise, so the company has done well in spite of delayed monsoon. This vouches for the genetic buffering capacity (Homeostasis )of its products to weather aberrations.
Q4) Do you recommend any policy changes from the government?
Seed industry should be given the status of preferred industry by the Government. Policy support from the Govt. by way of encouragement to investment in research and infrastructure; minimal regulation and compliance; freedom to operate based on free market principles
Q5) Is power crisis impacting the seed industry?
Yes; since agriculture cannot wait, seed should be available to the farmers at the right time, in required quantity and desired quality to meet the food demand of the people. The irregular supply and power cuts derail all the operations of the seed industry including production leading to seed scarcity and eventually to food crises.
Q6) It is said that India will become future hub for seed production of the world. Your comments on that?
Availability of arable land, varied agro climate, congenial environment for seed production of diverse crops, trained manpower, skilled labour backed by a vibrant seed industry fifth largest in the world, certainly India has the imminent potential to become a global seed hub
Q7) What do you see the potential for paddy seed and maize seed in Indian seed industry?
Rice and maize are two important food basket crops along with wheat and their stagnant production and productivity makes the country food insecure. . The decline in yield gain for these crops is of great concern. Nevertheless, the R&D capabilities of seed Industry, as well pro business policy environment to support their growth, will significantly contribute to productivity gains in these two major crops. After Bt cotton, next growth driver of hope for industry is hybrid rice.
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Courtesy : Gubba Cold Storage Ltd
Disc : I have vested interest in KSCL
