The One who Speaks Quality and his language is Seed- Mr. Girish Sharadbhai Patel

Mr. Girish Sharadbhai Patel

Ques – Would you please tell us about your background and profile?
My name is  Girish Sharadbhai Patel, Managing Director at AlpGiri Seed Sciences Private Limited, Gandhinagar, had my Masters in 2000 from GAU, SK Nagar. My specialization is in Olericulture and  I was the first olericulturist in GAU in 2000. For pursuing my dream, I decided to have first-hand practical experience before starting own business. So, I joined as research trainee in Vibha Agrotech Ltd. Hyderabad. Research was my passion so it gave me enough exposure during my tenure with Vibha Agrotech. Since the company was growing, I was given responsibility for entire Gujarat wherein I got an opportunity to work alongside in marketing, seed production, quality control (QC0) and processing plant. In 2010, my dream came true and started my own business.
AlpGiri was incorporated in the year 2010 and became a prominent name in seed industry in 2014. The goal of the company is to serve the farmers through innovative technology by providing the value-added high-quality seed.
We have now spread  our operations in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Telangana with more than 65 hybrids/varieties in 35 crops and strengthening further in southern and eastern states.
To further strengthen our technological edge, we take a strategic decision to associate ourselves with international institutes. We had entered into strategic MoA with leading world level organization, CIMMYT, Mexico for Corn. More than 82 hybrids are under trial at our company R&D farm. Adding one step ahead, we have signed MoA with world recognized institute ICRISAT, Hyderabad for pearl millet as well as fodder bajra with high nutrient content in it, Besides company has also tie up with Harvest Plus program -bajra having hi-zinc and hi-iron content to fight against widespread malnutrition.

Ques – How did you land up in this field?  Why you choose this particular field?
I come from farming community which, for many decades, is in forefront in producing  food.
Agriculture is my passion.  Since childhood, I was amazed at the transformation of small seed into a plant. The transformation of SMALL(Alp) to BIG (Giri) inspired me to start this business. Seeds are also the foundation of human life and base for human diets across the world.
Coming from my heart, the past 10 years as an entrepreneur have been enormously satisfying. Seeing the farmers working with us growing, learning new things and prospering with us gives us immense happiness. They generate enough income and surplus to keep investing in their family’s future as well as their businesses, that is what is most satisfying to me.
Research is the backbone of our company. We follow the standard operating procedure for our research programme. Indian government is continuously focusing on doubling the income of farmers, a vision laid by our Hon’able Prime Minister. To contribute to this cause, we have developed ideal plant type as double cob maize hybrids with synchronous maturity. This technology help the farmer get almost double yield. We are also focusing in same fashion and started research in Mustard having double zero concept as erucic acid < 2% (anti nutritional and glucosinolates <30 ppm (sulphur rich- anti nutritional), also fairly tolerant to shattering enabling farmers fetch double rate of this product and double his income.

Ques- What is your company’s motto?
The goal of the Company is to serve the farmers through innovative technology by providing the value-added high-quality seed. Company is focusing mainly on crops like Cotton, Corn, Pearl Millet and Vegetable crops. The Company has several collaborations with institutes in South East Asia, SAU’s and Israel for germplasm exchange and testing. Company has also progressed to apply for strategic MoA with other world recognized vegetable institutes like IIVR-Varanasi, IIHR- Bangalore and AVRDC-Taiwan.
Regular testing of several vegetable and field crops hybrids in different locations of State Agriculture University for releases of hybrids/varieties Gujarat, Maharashtra is in progress. Company has set very high parameter for both genetical and physical seed purity and germination standard to meet 100 % germination by testing through several seed testing parameters like seed vigour test, seed floating test, seed treatment etc., and trying to give value addition through seed treatment for virus tolerance in vegetables.
With Climate change, yield levels of crops are affected and pose a big challenge. AlpGiri Seeds has also started their journey on second vision of feed technology i.e. plant nutrition business by tie up for marketing with world class reputed company Cytozyme lab Inc. USA to serve our customer by providing sustainable solutions and products. The technology is called MAC Technology, which protects plant from stress and improves quality parameters. To further strengthen technological edge, a strategic tie-up for NUE technology has been done with Verdesian life sciences, USA. Both technology are supporting the sustainable agriculture and going to be a game changer in this decade. The Technology includes products meant for Seed Enhancement Technology (SET), fertilizer coating and foliar applications. These products can help the farmers, /government/manufactures in doubling farm income, reduce fertilizer use and subsidy liabilities for government. We were the FIRST company to start sale and demonstrate of these patented products in whole Asian continent. This business is a complimentary business for our core seed business as it help us in building long term customer relationship, a key driver for sales volumes and profits.
Our tagline “We Speak Quality… Our language is Seed’ explains our commitment to provide quality seed to our growers. We are producing hybrid seeds and varieties of different field crops, vegetable crops, fiber crops, fodder crops, pulsesand cereal crops. We are working in all disciplinary department like research, production and marketing.
Our vision: To develop agriculture sector from seed to feed to food technology and contribute to our farmers and nation.
Our mission: To be recognized in top seed company with innovative technologies.

Ques -What are the projects that you have worked on? Or projects you are working on?(detailed insight)
We have started our R&D since company’s inception and accordingly we have worked on our focused field crops like corn, pearl millet, mustard, castor and cotton. In the same way we  focused on vegetable crops specially on chilly, okra, water melon, musk melon and tomato and developed a number of promising hybrids which got registered in different state of India and also done well in SAU trials in different states. Based on this work our R&D unit has been recognized by DSIR (Department of scientific and industrial research), Ministry of Science and Technology, New Delhi.
We have lots of future plans other than seeds but for ongoing projects on seeds we have to set future technology in breeding and plant genetics we  have our goal to facilitate teams with well-equipped seed testing lab, biotechnology lab and seed processing plant. For these facilities we are going to have world class machineries of seed technology from around the world. Second, we are working on very important project i.e Bt cotton crop and want to work passionately, for that we need GM or GE technologies. We are working hard to collaborate with technology provider companies so that we can set all desirable criteria which TPC asking.
Rather than seeds we have future business projects to expand our business in different discipline like nursery business (vegetable crop sapling), plan nutrition business, super food business, robotic and drone business, tissue culture, export of green harvest and hydroponics business.
We have focused on our breeding program and took it to next level specially on High Density Planting (HDP) system in crops like corn, cotton. We are also working on double cob in corn.
Cotton is hard crop but now a days global worming effect is too harsh and its affecting 65% of yield due to extremely high temperature and long spell of rain i.e drought for long period. In the same way heavy rain also effects the crops in big way. So, we have started our breeding program in such way that our hybrid will stand in harsh climates also.
Accordingly in Mustard we are doing breeding on double zero (Contain less than 2% Erucic acid (Anti nutritional) and <30 ppm glucosinolates (Sulphur rich-anti nutritional).
We are educating our farmers and making them aware about nutrient management for high input crops and organizing seminar which will help them to increase their yield.
We want to change general practices of Chilli growers especially from sapling to harvesting methods which are very old method. In Saurashtra region farmers generally prefer to grow their own nursery in open not in net houses. We are trying to convince them to use greenhouse nurseries that are free from any diseases and pest. Second, we want develop their farming with drip and mulching concepts which are needed in present scenario.
To Better serve our growers , we are coming up with state of the art R & D facility building which will include Biotechnology Lab, Tissue culture lab , Seed Testing Laboratory, Cold Storage and IOT technology, a sensor based technology for analyzing the changes in environment condition and action that needs to be followed.
To further scale up business, we are coming with a unique and state of the art Seed Processing Facility to be operational in less than 6 month. The facility will be an integrated unit which will clean, sort and pack seeds. The machineries are the latest from Europe.

Ques – What steps should be taken in order to make horticulture/landscape/nursery business a field that interests people?
Seed is basically farming input business which needs to be managed patiently with long-term vision. Research is key factor of success of seed business. Germplasm collection or creation through genetic enhancement program is the basic foundation for any seed company. Hybridization which may start with evaluation of IHT (Initial Hybrid Trial) then AHT (Advance Hybrid Trial) then strip trial then demos then sales. A hybrid variety release will take 3 years and its evaluation takes place twice a year. Based on above, marketing is also key factor because you have to show your product to farmers against best check (competitors) which are available in the market.

Ques- What are the recent/recommended technologies in the field/ should be adopted for better results?

Due to global warming farming must be done with the new and latest technologies. Following tools are needed for better yield of any crop.
a) Selection of hybrids which tolerate to abiotic stress.
b) Mulching is needed for multi picking vegetable crops like chilli, tomato, brinjal, gourds.
c) Drip irrigation compulsory for all crop which help in managing fertigation.
d) Nutrient management day to day basis.
e) Spraying schedule to be prepared without red triangle pesticide.
f) Plant bio stimulant has also big role to fight abiotic stress (MAC technology).
g) NUE technology are going to play very big role in coming days of agriculture

As I told earlier, seed is the basic tool of agriculture. Seed business has huge potential and at the same time has responsibilities to feed the world. Now in 2021 there is 7.9 billion population and it may reach up to 9.7 billion by 2050. To feed the huge population, we must have to increase the yield in same area. MORE from LESS will be National slogan in next coming year. Integrated technologies needs to be adopted like FYM, GMO & GE technologies to feed the world. Any technologies related to GMO or GE should be adopted at earliest and flexible policy should be made to smoothen the release of the technology. At the end seed has huge scope, without food we can’t survive. We have huge responsibilities to convert non veg food to veg food for controlling greenhouse emission. If we provide enough food from less area then we can control greenhouse emission to save our beautiful planet for the secure life of next generation.
Honesty, hard work and courage are core values of our company. If you are in seed business then you must be honest and have to do hard work and again courage is needed because you have to plan your business considering all nature related aspect also like: too much rain, no rain, and field operation related problems that affects seed production. Never compromise on quality.
As a responsible entrepreneur, I have been devoting my time for water conservation project. It is named as “JAL MANDIR” based in Shirpur Pattern concept. It is a concept which includes removing the upper fertile layer of soil allowing deep percolation of water. One of the project at my farm, we have stored more than 14 crore litres of water and recharged bore wells in 1 km area. I dream of doing JAL MANDIR Project in more than 500 villages. We are also doing awareness programmes in various places across Maharashtra & Gujarat.

Ques – Can you give us your secret to success?

Gain more knowledge, move towards your goal then things will follow on their own if you are willing to do the things by heart. So connect your mind to heart. TRUST, RELATION and KNOWLEDGE is key factor of your life.