Indian Potash enters local market with US$ 1m investment

BY IRANGIKA Range

IPL (Lanka) Limited, a fully owned subsidiary of Indian Potash Ltd has entered the fertilizer trade in Sri Lanka to improve agricultural practices and yield.

The company has been approved by the BOI this year. It has invested US$ 1. Million initially to supply chemical fertilizer under various categories under its brand name of IPL Pohora to Sri Lanka.

Managing Director of the Indian Potash Ltd Dr. P.S. Gahlaut said that the Indian Potash Ltd is a second largest fertilizer company in India recording the turnover of US$ 1 billion.

The purpose of entering the Sri Lankan market is Sri Lanka's climate, which is similar to the Southern part of India, and very much suitable for agricultural activities.

But when Sri Lanka is compared to the India, Sri Lankan farmers' consumption of fertilizer is very low and it is a reason for the low productivity.

"There are three important categories such as good seeds, fertilizer and management to get effective harvest. We should educate farmers on how to select appropriate fertilizer to their cultivation and how to use accurate quantities in a suitable time.

Sri Lankan farmers should concentrate properly about these activities and we are very keen on involving this matter by implementing farmers' education programmes with the assistance of local authorities and universities," he said.

He said that IPL fertilizer has big demand in India and it has good reputation in Bangladesh as well. We celebrated the company's 50th anniversary this June. We started the company in 1955 and at the beginning, the company was able to supply only 12,000 tones of fertilizer to the Indian market.

Today the company has shown a remarkable growth and it could supply four million tones of fertiliser this year.

Country Manager of the IPL (Lanka) Limited U.G.Dayananda said that the company has introduced fertiliser under various categories at reasonable prices to the local market. It is happy to say that the present government has also paid attention to promote farmers through its policy planning.

Under this project, over 600 job opportunities will be provided. The company will also educate its dealers and distributors to advise farmers.