Cargill India plans to set up plant in UP

Company eyeing 600 tonnes in monthly sales of animal feed in UP current fiscal

The Indian subsidiary of US-based conglomerate Cargill is considering to set up an animal feed plant in Uttar Pradesh.

The company, which started selling its animal/dairy feed product in UP only last year, had surpassed its target by almost 40%.

"After starting our animal feed business in UP, we had clocked average monthly sales of about 250 tonnes against our initial target of 180 tonnes," Cargill India Private Limited chairman Siraj A Chaudhry told Business Standard here.

For current fiscal, the company is eyeing 600 tonnes in monthly sales of animal feed in UP. "Now, we are mulling to set up a unit in UP, once we build a certain capacity," he added.

With the current distributor network of 70 across western UP, the company has plans to expand its footprint in eastern and central regions of the state as well to realise its target.

Cargill is engaging with farmers through interactions, visits and education to win trust and introduce them to organised animal feed space, he informed.

It already has a dairy feed plant in Punjab, which together with Haryana constitute the largest markets for Cargill India at present.

"Since UP is predominantly agrarian, it has large untapped potential in dairy and poultry sectors. Besides, agro processing industries are needed to cut down on wastage and pilferage in the post harvest phase," he underlined.

Cargill's operations in India started in 1987. Sister concern Cargill Foods India processes, refines and markets many types of local and imported edible vegetable oils, fats and blends for the retail, food service sector and beverage industry.

Cargill owns and operates three vegetable oil refineries located at Paradeep (Odisha), Kandla (Gujarat) and Kurkumbh (Maharashtra).

Meanwhile, UP roughly accounts for 10-15% of Cargill India's revenues with oil segment contributing almost 15% alone.