Nafed plans biofertiliser plants in Nepal, Mauritius

National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (Nafed) is planning to set up biofertiliser plants in Nepal and Mauritius.

The farmers' cooperative organistaion is in talks with National Cooperative Federation of Nepal and Agriculture Development Marketing Association, Mauritius, for setting up the proposed plants at an estimated cost of Rs 1 crore per unit, with an annual production capacity of 150 metric tonne. The project is expected to take off in three years.

"The scope for biofertiliser in Nepal and Mauritius are greater when compared to other South Asian countries. We are exploring a joint venture route for biofertiliser plants," said Alok Dwivedi, Nafed deputy general manager. At present, Nafed is working on the construction of production units in West Bengal, Uttaranchal and Uttar Pradesh.

In West Bengal, the plant is to come up at at Siliguri. However, nothing has been finalised yet, Dwivedi said. The Uttaranchal plant will be located at Ranipura. Nafed is also looking for an ideal location for its third plant near their complex and warehouse in Lucknow.

Dwivedi said the three plants would be completed over the next two years. Nafed will take up its overseas joint venture project immediately after the completion of its domestic plants, though it plans to simultaneously proceed with talks for the Nepal and Mauritius projects, he said.

In 2004-05, the cooperative organisation had exported 12 metric tonne of biofertiliser to Nepal, where the demand is rising. Demand from Mauritius farmers is much lower.

"However, the sugar cane growers in Mauritius are keen to try biofertilisers. For the two units, Nafed has to ship machinery, which will further increase the cost of the plants," Dwivedi said.

As part of their second phase expansion projects, Nafed is also eyeing the South Indian markets. It has submitted proposals to the central government to set up plants in Kerala and Karnataka.

"If the government provides us the land, we will go ahead with these projects. Currently, Nafed has two biofertiliser plants in Indore and Bharatpur (Rajastan). The capacity of the Indore unit is 450 metric tonne per year and the Bharatpur unit is producing 300 metric tonne," he added.