IFFCO sets up 30K TPA zinc sulphate plant at Kandla

As a step forward to provide micro-nutrient based fertilisers to country's farmers, Indian Farmers Fertilisers Co-operative Ltd (IFFCO) has set up a zinc sulphate monohydrate plant at Kandla having an annual capacity of 30,000 tonnes per annum.

The greenfield facility, set up at the cost of around Rs 29 crore, is expected to provide key ingredient for the farm produces that can reduce the zinc micronutrient deficiency in Indian soil and increase yield. According to officials, the application of zinc can increase the yield by 20-25 per cent.

IFFCO, through its nationwide marketing chain, will supply zinc sulphate monohydrate packed in a 5-kg pouch to the farmers. "We are waiting for the final decision on pricing of the pouch from the headquarters," said a person close to the development.

IFFCO claims that the plant with the daily production capacity of 100 tonnes is the largest in Asia. U S Awasthi, managing director of IFFCO inaugurated the plant at Kandla on March 1, 2012.

"There have been several smaller plants making this product in India, but no one of such huge capacity. So far, Indian fertiliser companies imported large volumes of zinc sulphate monohydrate, in order to fortify the agri-inputs. This plant will fulfill a large part of the total demand in the country," said an IFFCO executive at the Kandla plant.

According to company, the plant would emerge as a support for food security programme in India and over a period of time it would also play major role in improving the lives of Indian farmers.

Earlier, IFFCO had introduced several other innovative farm inputs like neem coated urea and urea phosphate at Kalol and Kandla respectively.

As per the information provided by IFFCO, about 50 per cent of India's farm soil face zinc deficiency, which reduces output and nutritional value of the crop.

Nutrient-based fertilisers would help farmers get higher yield and thereby increase their incomes. Additionally, families that are zinc deficient would benefit with sufficient level of zinc in their diet, IFFCO stated. Zinc deficiency is wide spread in India with about 50 per cent population deficient in zinc, it said.

Further, IFFCO is awaiting the completion of a urea plant having capacity of 1.4 million tonnes at Kalol with an investment of about Rs4,660 crore. However, the project is awaiting gas allocation from the Central government to start production.