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Delhi-based Crystal Crop Protection Ltd is focussing on India-specific research to come up with new crop varieties as multinationals are not looking at crops such as mustard or millets, the company’s CEO Satyendar Singh has said. The company has introduced a new hybrid variety wheat during the current rabi season, while it has set foot in Thailand through its 12th acquisition of I & B Seeds, a prominent player in the flower and vegetable seeds market. ‘We were not in wheat.
So, we expanded our portfolio and introduced a wheat variety which is an open-pollinated one as there are no hybrids in wheat as of now. This is the first year we have given it to the farmers. The results from the trials have been very encouraging and farmers who have seen in the past have expanded the area.
We were able to sell a good quantity in the very first year. We have now begun our wheat breeding programme,” he told businessline in an online interaction. The wheat is climate-resilient and can withstand a little bit of high temperature at the harvest, he said.
As an Indian company, Crystal is trying to focus on India-specific research. Globally, people are focused on canola and nobody is focused on mustard research. “Mustard is very specific to India and no global company will likely put their money.
But being an Indian company, this is an important crop,” Singh said. With times changing and more companies focusing on India, it could help change the face of Indian agriculture. “We may not be dependent on the research coming from developed countries.
Even multinational companies have to focus on India-specific products if they have to compete in India,” Singh said. Crystal began its seed business in 2012 acquiring a small seed company called Rohini Seed. Since then, it has acquired the Indian businesses of Bayer and pearl millet, mustard and cotton businesses of Syngenta.
Last year, it bought the Sadanand cotton brand, which is prominent in South India, from Kohinoor seeds before acquiring I & B seeds fully. On climate change, the company’s CEO said it was a huge challenge for the seed sector as seeds need two cycles where the seed is produced in the first cycle and sent to farmers in the second. The company earned a revenue of ₹351 crore because it has helped farmers in “adverse climatic conditions”.
“Many companies are probably facing problems with their millet hybrids and seeds but as per feedback from farmers, our hybrid performs well. We got this feedback from our village,” Singh said. “Our people have been going out consistently and advising farmers.
It is not only the products that are important but also the advisory because in tough climatic conditions,” he said adding that the differentiation in the product is because of its research and development (R&D) its team is providing at the right time. One of the reasons for Crystal to acquire I & B Seeds is that it has a strong R&D team and infrastructure in marigolds, chillies, tomatoes, cucumber and a few other vegetable crops. “It is difficult to breed a variety that can withstand all the climate changes.
But breeding teams and breeders are picking and choosing the one or two factors that help. For example, there are certain heat-tolerant crops already bred by our breeders. In certain crops of marigold, there’s already disease-resistant one and another in which the harvest can be delayed,” said the company’s CEO.
Crystal Crop Protection Ltd has introduced a new hybrid wheat variety during the current rabi season. “We have received good traction from farmers. Our long-term focus is to put our research efforts towards mustard and millet,” he said.
The objective of that is, for example, if the company can increase the oil content in millet by 2 per cent, it will not only add to the farmers’ income but also to the country’s GDP. On farmers shifting from mustard to wheat this year, he said it was due to two factors. Farmers who have irrigation facilities are swinging towards wheat as its prices are more stable and the Centre procures them at minimum support prices.
“In the 2023-24 rabi season, the yield was lower due to unseasonal weather. In January-February, the crop was affected by disease. “These have resulted in farmers shifting to wheat,” Singh said, adding that the area under maize is increasing.
Crystal Crop is present in all States, thanks to its latest acquisition of I&B Seeds. It has given it an entry into Thailand. “We are also looking at opportunities for producing seed in India for people outside the country,” the company’s CEO said.
The company is looking at opportunities for technological tie-ups which can help it in R&D. It is in talks with a firm but Singh he would not want to go public with details now. Crystal Crop has not introduced any app for growers and depends on its 600 field staff.
On genetically modified crops, Singh said policy standstill in the country has led to research being shifted from transgenic crops to alternatives such as gene editing. “India is one of the few countries which has drafted clear rules in gene editing. However, intellectual property and licensing issues remain.
However, they could be solved soon,” the Crystal Crop Protection Ltd said. Comments.
