Meet the Member: India (IFFCO) Date : 2015-11-04 Views : 8414

IFFCO
During the mid- sixties the co-operative sector in India was responsible for the distribution of 70% of fertilizers consumed in the country. This sector had an adequate infrastructure to distribute fertilizers but no production facilities of its own. Hence, the co-operative sector was dependent on the public and private sectors for supplies. To overcome this challenge and to bridge the supply and demand gap in the country, a new cooperative society was conceived to specifically cater to the requirements of farmers. They called this society the Indian Farmers Fertilizer Co-operative, or IFFCO. It was a unique venture in which the farmers of the country, through their own co-operative societies, created this new institution to safeguard their interests. The number of co-operative societies associated with IFFCO has risen from 57 in 1967 to 36,666 in 2014-15.
Indian Farmers Fertilizer Co-operative Limited (IFFCO) was registered on November 3, 1967 as a multi-unit co-operative society. IFFCO is primarily engaged in the production and distribution of fertilizers. However, the bylaws of the society provide a broad framework for the activities of IFFCO as a co-operative organization.
IFFCO has currently undertaken dozens of projects and programs to support agriculture in India. Among these are programs in balanced fertilization, adoption of villages, farmer ambassador programs to state agricultural universities and research institutes, farmers meetings and crop seminars, and static and mobile soil testing laboratories. However, of all these projects, soil testing is one of the most fundamental tasks that IFFCO manages.
IFFCO established two soil-testing laboratories through the Cooperative Rural Development Trust (CORDET) at Phulpur in the Allahabad district of Uttar Pradesh in 1980-81 and at Kalol in the Gandhinagar district of Gujarat in 1982-83. As of 2015, these facilities have analyzed 1,811,755 soil samples for major nutrients. Later, IFFCO initiated analysis of sulfur at these two s and has analyzed 8,908 samples to date. IFFCO then included micronutrients analytical facilities at three s and has analyzed 92,422 samples for the micronutrients zinc, iron, manganese, and copper. And finally, in 1988, IFFCO introduced 9 mobile soil-testing vans to provide soil-testing services to farmers in 19 states in India. From 1988 to present, these vans have analyzed 620,101 soil samples for major nutrients. These services are organized to be as convenient as possible for farmers. Testing, analysis, and reporting are available on the spot, and services are free for farmers.
Besides soil testing, IFFCO also has several fertilizer manufacturing plants, which are primarily the result of a massive expansion program that began in 1993. The expansion projects at Aonla, Kalol, Phulpur and Kandla were completed as part of IFFCO’s VISION 2000 with no time or cost overruns. All of these production units have established a reputation for excellence and quality. Another growth path called Vision 2010 was chalked out to realize newer dreams and greater heights. As part of this vision, IFFCO acquired a fertilizer unit at Paradeep in Orissa in September 2005. As a result of these expansion projects and acquisitions, IFFCO's annual capacity has increased to 3.69 million tonnes of Urea and 1.71 million tonnes of NPK/DAP. In pursuit of its growth and development, IFFCO embarked upon and successfully implemented its corporate plans, ‘Mission 2005’ and ‘Vision 2010’. These plans have resulted in IFFCO becoming one of the largest producers and marketers of chemical fertilizers by expansion of its existing units, establishment of joint venture companies overseas and diversification into new sectors.
IFFCO has made strategic investments in several joint ventures. Indian Potash Ltd. (IPL), Industries Chimiques du Senegal (ICS), Oman India Fertilizer Company (OMIFCO), and Jordan India Fertiliser Company (JIFCO) are important fertilizer joint ventures. As part of strategic diversification, IFFCO has entered into several key sectors. IFFCO-Tokio General Insurance Ltd. (ITGI) is a foray into the general insurance sector. Through ITGI, IFFCO has formulated new services to be of benefit to farmers. 'Sankat Haran Bima Yojana' provides free insurance coverage to farmers along with each bag of IFFCO fertilizer purchased. To take the benefits of emerging concepts like agricultural commodity trading, IFFCO has taken equity in the National Commodity and Derivative Exchange (NCDEX). IFFCO Chattisgarh Power Ltd. (ICPL), which is under implementation, is yet another foray to move into the core area of power. IFFCO is also behind several other companies with the sole intention of benefitting farmers
The distribution of IFFCO's fertilizer is undertaken through over 36,666 co-operative societies. Activities of distribution, sales, and promotion are coordinated by the Marketing Central Office (MKCO) in New Delhi and assisted by the marketing offices in the field. In addition, essential agro-inputs for crop production are made available to farmers through a chain of 158 Farmers Service Centres (FSC). IFFCO has promoted several institutions and organizations to work for the welfare of farmers, thus strengthening the cooperative movement and improving Indian agriculture. IFFCO also enthusiastically nurtures its relations with farmers and undertakes a large number of agricultural extension activities for their benefit every year.
At IFFCO, the thirst for continually improving services to farmers and member co-operatives is insatiable, commitment to quality is insurmountable, and harnessing of mother earths' bounty to drive hunger away from India in an ecologically sustainable manner is the prime mission. All that IFFCO cherishes in exchange is an everlasting smile on the face of the Indian Farmer who forms the moving spirit behind this mission. Today, IFFCO is a leading player in India's fertilizer industry and is making substantial contributions to the efforts of the Indian Government to increase food grain production in the country.