STC...... cultivates jatropha overseas..Rs 271

STC cultivates jatropha overseas
10 july 2008
Our Bureau BANGALORE
THE State Trading Corporation (STC) has started trial cultivation of a bio-engineered, high-yielding variety of jatropha in Surinam in South America and is in talks to grow the crop in Indonesia as part of a move to raise output of the biodiesel feedstock. The export house is also considering tieups with aircraft makers to supply biodiesel derived from jatropha to be blended with jet fuel, CMD Arvind Pandalai said. Trial cultivation has started on about 100 hectares in Surinam and the plantation is expected to eventually cover some 50,000 hectares. STC has spent more than Rs 10 crore to develop new varieties which are rich in oil and grow faster than the conventional types. “We have been able to develop varieties which can be harvested in about eight months against the conventional four years. The bioengineering effort has also ensured that these new varieties have four oil-bearing pods instead of the normal three,” Mr Pandalai said. Besides the focus on biofuels from jatropha, STC is promoting export of many Indian commodities, including tea. The company is looking to increase the network of tea factories and expand its footprint in south India by sourcing from small tea-growers in Kotagiri in Tamil Nadu. STC has been buying about 60,000 kg of green tea every day from small growers to be processed at factories identified by the company nearby. The Tofah brand of CTC tea is being exported and has earned revenues of Rs 500 crore so far, he said. Some of the tea is also sold in the domestic market through the Gujarat Civil Supplies Corporation.


My Comments:
STC is a government owned biz .I usually do not follow PSU's as it is government decision sensitive.But seems here the management is working in right direction without any interference from the Babus....
Being a trading co they must also be having vast lands at prime location for warhousing and the above move to grow Jathropa is a master stroke by the Management.Cultivating Jathropa's in USA and Surinam needs a vision and that is what they are showing...... “We have been able to develop varieties which can be harvested in about eight months against the conventional four years....."These needs R&D ....which they have done.....
What other will need 4 years to grow Jathropa Plants, STC will be able to do in 8 months...that is a huge huge advantage.....then its peers...
The management seems very dynamic.....the future growth & Scalability is visible.......