Transforming tradition
Anil
Harlalka, Manager, Noble Explochem talks to Tulika Banerjee about
the importance of crop diversification in India and its enormous potential
as the future of Indian agriculture
During
the last five decades, the demand for cultivation of newer crops has
grown. For rapid rural development, diversification of small farms
is often suggested. The moot question today is how do we achieve the
goal of diversification of small farms by overcoming various technological,
infrastructural, and institutional and policy constraints.
Can you elaborate on the
role of Noble Horticulture on the cultivation of diversified crops?
Noble horticulture is a part of Noble Explochem,
one of the largest manufacturers and distributors of industrial explosives
and blasting service company in the country with a turnover of more
than Rs 40 crore. Our manufacturing facility is set up in Hingni,
Wardha, Maharashtra spread over a massive 1500 acres of land with
entire infrastructure such as fencing, security and power supply made
available to every part of the land. Noble was set up in 1982 in technical
collaboration with world leaders in explosives from Norway and Sweden.
Later, it entered into another technical collaboration with Canada
(earlier known as Dupont Explosives) to produce futuristic explosives
for which a brand new set up has been created in record time, operation
of which has already started in March 2004. TC Kothari, MD, Noble
Explochem has been the guiding force behind this initiative. Realising
the future potential of natural based medicinal and aromatic products
we have forayed into cultivation of next generation crops with huge
potential such as Patchouli, Pogostemon cablin, Stevia anti-diabetic
calorie free sweetener which is the wonder crop of the millennium.
We have started offering buy-back agreements to farmers for Patchouli
(and for other crops in the near future) under contract farming with
attractive returns.
What are the new varieties of medicinal and aromatic
plants that can be grown in India ......
contd...
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