Carrfields Group has opened its Indian seed operation, Winseed Agri Private, a 100% owned subsidiary of Canterbury Seed Company.
Based in Khandwa, central India and Kolar, south India, Winseed would give New Zealand cropping farmers greater opportunity to grow a wide range of crops for export to India.
The NZ product would develop its own brand and be packaged in India to meet a growing demand for NZ hybrid seed, Carrfields managing director Craig Carr said.
The market was predominately high-value vegetable seed including peas, carrots and radish.
Canterbury Seed had been exporting to India for some time but had more recently identified the opportunity to add more value by opening a base in India.
“This is an opportunity to grow value for the grower and all involved along the supply chain to a growing market demand.”
Winseed, a global vegetable seed marketing company, provided an alternative international distribution channel, replacing traditional, open pollinated seed varieties with more reliable, superior hybrids, Carr said.
The company owned a number of varieties and had access to a wide range of seeds from breeding programmes all around the world.
There were some new and exciting varieties in the market now and more coming to the market, Carr said.
“The business is extensively profiling the market requirements and finding reliable sources of varieties to fill our customers’ needs.
“Winseed’s India-based operation was a central distribution point that was critical for the business as it continued to grow,” he said.
The offshore operation employed 16 permanent and 10 seasonal staff headed by business development manager Arpit Desai.
Winseed operated in four south Indian states, Seemandra, Telangana, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
Future expansion was planned into the central and west Indian states of Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Rajasthan.
