IPL in the Service of Farmers
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Indian Journal of Fertilisers, Vol. 2 (1), April 2006, pp. 65-70 (6 pages) IPL in the Service of Farmers Indian Potash Limited (IPL) has completed more than 50 years in fertiliser trade in India. IPL has equity partners from private, public and cooperative sector of fertiliser industry. The organisation was set-up for import, handling, promotion and marketing of potash in the entire country. The organisation has grown with T. RAMCHANDRAN vast network of dealers across the country and enlarged the product basket Indian Potash Limited, from MOP to AS, urea, DAP, SSP, RP, SOP, gypsum and cattle feed. IPL field staff Pragati Tower, Rajendra Place, have been rendering excellent agronomic services through various extension New Delhi -100008 activities. IPL has also collaborated with CIDA, ICEF, IPC, PPIC and K+S GmbH for implementation of agriculture and rural development projects. Understanding the needs of farming community and assisting them to enhance their prosperity has been the driving force behind IPL’s sales promotion and extension activities. NDIAN POTASH LIMITED (IPL), ONE OF got sown in the bed of Indian accountability and transparency in the I the oldest members of Fertiliser Agriculture. During 1955, a joint stock functioning of IPL. company by the name of Indian Potash Industry in India, celebrated its golden In our efforts to ensure adequate supply Supply Agency (IPSA) was set-up by jubilee on 17.6.2005. IPL in its life span of of MOP and other fertilisers in the the then Ministry of Commerce and 50 years has kept its focus on farmers country and to avoid shortage of MOP Industry consisting of all the leading that enabled it to increase their sales especially which is 100% imported, we importers of fertilisers as its shareholders. volume from 11 thousand tonnes in 1955- had right from the beginning created IPSA, thus, become the sole entrusted 56 to 36.76 lakh tonnes of fertilisers infrastructure in all the major and minor agency for import handling, promotion during 2004-05. The turnover in this ports in India to receive cargo as and and marketing of Potash in the entire period has increased from Rs.34.31 lakh when required. This includes handling country. IPSA’s work on Potash to 3289.05 crores. The success story of IPL of vessels, storage and transportation to promotion was recognised by the farmers is the result of vigorous promotional various centres by rail and road in the across the nation, and was well and marketing efforts put in over the country to enable the distribution network appreciated by the Sivaraman Committee years. Half a century is a long period in to make availability of MOP at the on Fertilisers as well as the National the life of any business identity consuming points, i.e., at the doorsteps of Commission on Agriculture. Thereafter, to undergoing change, evolution and the farmers. It will not be an come up to the expected challenges adaptability. Nevertheless, for IPL what understatement to say that IPL created because of introduction of HYV seeds, has not changed in these fifty years is its infrastructure in most of the minor it was decided to strengthen IPSA by unwavering, unrelenting and unflinching ports which are serving the nation well broadening its capital base. In 1970, ‘Focus on Farmer’. Understanding the even now. The handling of latest IPSA was converted into Indian Potash needs of the farming community and vessels – Panamax was introduced by IPL Limited (IPL) and its membership base was assisting them in good as well as bad through Gujarat ports as most of the expanded to include cooperative sector times has been the driving force behind major ports were shying away from institutions and public sector IPL’s sales promotion and extension handling bulk dry fertiliser cargo. In short, companies. activities. Agriculture is the essence of it is only IPL in India which can handle not only the economy, but also of the The Government of India deserves fertilisers throughout India through any culture and this is reflected in the large appreciation for structuring IPL’s share port. number of harvest festivals and other capital in such a way that it represents Over the past 5 decades, IPL has been traditions centered on farming. Our ever- almost all the stakeholders in fertiliser on a phenomenal growth path, which is growing population demands constant and agriculture sectors. The entire co- well indicated by the increased effort to increase agricultural production. operative sectors at all the levels– consumption of Potash in the country It is, however, equally important to districts, state and national, is innovate methods and techniques to from 10.3 thousand tonnes of K O in represented fairly well with NCDC (a 2 1955-56 to 2.02 million tonnes in 2004- ensure that our country remains self- Government of India statutory body to 2005. Sale of all IPL fertiliser showed an sufficient. plan, promote and finance the increase from 11.8 thousand tonnes to 3.7 development of agriculture co- IPL – EVOLUTION million tonnes, turnover rose from Rs. 3.43 operatives) as well as state level co- million to Rs. 32.88 billion during the same THE EVOLUTION OF IPL STARTED SOMETIME operative federations as its members, period. before the seeds of “Green Revolution” which ensures enhanced reliability, 65 INDIAN JOURNAL OF FERTILISERS APRIL 2006 FROM FERTILISER TO OTHER activities related to agriculture and along with ‘N’ and ‘P’. In this process, AREAS OF SERVICES TO FARMERS commodity purchases, sales, etc., There the productivity of crops increased is a good response from farmers to this gradually and with the green revolution WE HAVE BEEN VERY CLOSELY WORKING club. taking place in the country, the role played with the rural sector in the country where by IPL has become very crucial in PROMOTIONAL PROGRAMMES directly our concern is to improve the well- achieving the food stability what the being of the farmers. We have been INDIAN POTASH SUPPLY AGENCY (IPSA) country enjoying now. supplying fertilisers and also educating forerunner to IPL was essentially created the farmers for a gainful farming to IPL agronomists share their knowledge to introduce ‘K’ to Indian soil which was improve their lifestyle and earnings and experience in events like haats, field not known to Indian farmers during 50s. through various methods. With this in days, harvest festivals, farmers This was a time immediately after mind, we entered into dairy products i.e. conferences, crop seminars, kisan melas, independence India was looking forward purchasing milk from farmers and selling agro exhibitions, dealer training to aid to meet food requirements in the under the brand name of `Dairy Fresh’ to programmes, village adoption country. Farmers were using only urea ensure that farmers are getting reasonable programmes, crop demonstrations, soil and were not keen for balanced market price. The milk collected through testing, fertiliser recommendation fertilisation. During this time, a dedicated village collection centres undergoes ultra- programmes and meeting at agro service team of agriculture workers from IPSA modern processing at the plant and the centres. Various activities are organised (IPL) commenced with all earnestness to final product passes 20 stringent tests to including mass media programmes like propagate the use of ‘K’ and the benefits be hygienic and wholesome. We are also screening of films as well as slides that derived from use of ‘K’ by supplying to the farmers good quality through audio-visuals vans and rural conducting field demonstrations cattle feed produced in our own plant at theatres, press publicity, radio jingles, throughout the country. There were Sikandrabad, distt. Bulandshahar (UP). road side hoardings, wall paintings, resistance from farmers to use ‘K’ – The milk procured from the farmers are distribution of elaborately printed potash in the beginning due to various processed at our own plant at Kundli, publicity literature like crop leaflets, apprehensions such as crop getting distt. Sonepat (Haryana) for redistribution. hand bills; POP displays material such as damaged, etc., were few of the problems These services are well-appreciated by the posters, stickers, tin plates, glow signs, to be mentioned faced by IPL. With the farming community and they prefer to calendars and exhibition material. IPL determination and commitment shown by purchase IPL cattle feed because of its field staff has been rendering excellent our earlier managers and agronomists, quality and also supply milk to IPL dairy agronomic services without any who continued the demonstrations and plant for getting prompt payment and commercial consideration thereby, acting trials etc., were able to communicate to the other support. as the farmers friend, philosopher and farmers about the need for use of ‘K’ In order to help the farmers during crisis such as death/accident in the family of farmer especially their breadwinner, we had provided to the farmers life insurance coverage for Rs. 1.00 lakh through M/s. IFFCO-TOKIO General Insurance Company in which IPL is also a partner. This benefit goes to the farmers even if they purchase a small quantity of fertiliser to the value of Rs.4,000/- only. Under this scheme, many of the poor farmers have been benefited throughout the country. We have also formed “IPL farmers club” in our ‘Golden jubilee year’ to impart knowledge of various farming activities to farmers. To begin with, this club was formed in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh and efforts are on to start in other states also. The aim of this club is to provide a forum to interact with the farmers and also to facilitate interaction First potash demonstration farmer being felicitated by among the farmers on their various Hon. Minister Mr. Ram Vilas Paswan during IPL Golden Jubilee function 66 INDIAN JOURNAL OF FERTILISERS APRIL 2006 Environment Improvement in Rainfed Table 1 - Ongoing promotional activities undertaken by IPL Areas (EIRA) Project S.No.