Coromandel SQM (India) is set to launch commercial production at what it claims is India's first water-soluble fertiliser plant.
The 15,000t-capacity plant at Kakinada in the state of Andhra Pradesh will be aimed at cotton, chilli, fruits, sugarcane and vegetable segments. The facility's capacity will be doubled to 30,000t with increasing demand and will import raw materials from Chile-based SQM. Coromandel SQM is a 50:50 joint venture between Coromandel International, which is part of the Murugappa Group, and the water-soluble specialty plant nutrition solutions provider SQM.
Coromandel International lead director V. Ravichandran said that water-soluble fertilisers would help farmers to minimise the water quantity and increase the quality and appearance of the produce.
"We will be initially focusing on vegetables, fruits, cotton, chilli and sugarcane crops. Although our products can be used for wheat and rice production as well, we will concentrate on these crops as we expand our plant capacity," Ravichandran added. "We will be launching the specialty blended products in the next three to five months."
Coromandel International managing director Kapil Mehan said the market was growing at 25% and demand for water-soluble fertilisers was likely to increase further.
"Any farmer who wants to sell his product for a better price will prefer soluble fertiliser," Mehan said.
