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NFCL Has Decided To Set Up Two Ready To Use Fertiliser Granule Units In WB

By siddharth22, Section News
Posted on Mon Oct 29, 2007 at 03:45:12 AM EST

Fertiliser major Nagarjuna Fertilisers and Chemicals (NFCL) has decided to set up two ready-to-use fertiliser granule units in West Bengal. Additionally, this Rs 1,815 crore company will help farmers identify the right kind of fertilisers for their farms, based on soil tests and agro-climatic conditions.

The new units, along with Nagarjuna Fertilisers' unique initiative for farmers, will facilitate agricultural production in the state. Incidentally, West Bengal government has decided to emphasise on balanced use of chemical, organic and bio-fertilisers. As part of this initiative, use of chemical fertilisers, which was about 15 lakh tonne in 2006-07, is slated to touch 17.41 lakh tonne in 2007-08. By the end of the 11th Plan Period, use of such fertilisers is expected to touch 23.50 lakh tonne.

When contacted, MV Rao, managing director of West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation (WBIDC), confirmed the development and told ET: "PP Singh, director of Nagarjuna Fertilisers had a meeting with us last week. They have finalised the projects. One is expected to come up in Midnapore and the other at Burdwan, which is considered the rice bowl of the state. Land is available for the twin projects."

Total investment for the twin units has been pegged at Rs 100 crore. Each of the units will require 10 acres. "The company is eager to set up the projects near agricultural areas as they intend to advice farmers on crop techniques," Mr Rao further added. Officials from NFCL, however, could not be contacted for comments.

Incidentally, West Bengal has a total area of 8.6 million hectares out of which 5.5 million hectares is net-cropped area with 171% cropping intensity. It produces 15% of the total production of rice in the country and is one of the principle rice growing states in India. Other important crops of the state are potato, jute and oilseeds.

This makes the state a lucrative market for any fertiliser company. The scope for increasing fertiliser consumption in West Bengal is enormous which is justified by the fact that in the last two decades, the agricultural growth in West Bengal is substantial by all-India standard. Source: TIE

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