Goodricke Group keen to buy more tea estates in Assam
Goodricke Group, part of UK-based Camellia Plc, one of the largest producers of bulk tea in the country, is looking to acquire two-to-three more estates in Assam to ramp up its production.
The company, which had acquired two estates in Assam from McLeod Russel last year, added close to 2.5 million kg (mkg) to its total portfolio. During FY-20, the company recorded own crop of 20.20 mkg as compared to 18.63 mkg in the previous year, according to information available in the latest annual report.
Sugarcane crushing season in full swing in Maharashtra
In Maharashtra, the sugarcane crushing season is in full swing despite the pandemic. To protect over eight lakh cane cutting workers from pandemic, sugar mills are making hand sanitizers from their in-house alcohol production, said Shekhar Gaikwad, State Sugar Commissioner.
Due to good rains in the State this year, the area under sugarcane cultivation has increased to 11 lakh hectare with an estimated 873 lakh metric tonne of cane would be available for crushing till. It will yield 99 lakh tonnes of sugar.
66% FPCs in Maharashtra have a low paid-up capital
66 per cent of Farmers Producer Companies (FPCs) in Maharashtra with ‘active’ registration have a low paid-up capital of ₹5 lakh or less, severely limiting their ability to procure bulk inputs, trade in agricultural commodities or initiate processing activities.
Richa Govil and Annapurna Neti, faculty of Azim Premji University, conducted a two-year study of Farmer Producer Companies in India to understand the current landscape, challenges and possible ways forward and have recently summarised findings for Maharashtra.
