IPL Biologicals Starts Manufacturing Facility in Gujarat Amid Push to Reduce Chemical Fertilizer Use

Vadodara: Biofertilizer company IPL Biologicals Ltd. on Thursday inaugurated its third biological manufacturing facility in Vadodara, Gujarat, with an investment of Rs 200 crore. The facility marks the first phase of the company’s proposed Rs 400 crore expansion project.

IPL Biologicals sees the Centre’s efforts to reduce dependence on imported chemical fertilizers as a major opportunity. Through the new facility, the company aims to scale up production of biofertilizers, biopesticides, and other crop protection and crop health products.

The inauguration ceremony was attended by the company’s brand ambassador and cricketer Yuvraj Singh, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) All India Executive member Suresh Soni, environmentalist Gopal Arya, progressive farmers, scientists, and company distributors.

Spread across 12 acres, with a built-up area of nearly 2 lakh square feet, the facility increases IPL Biologicals’ total production capacity to 70,000 litres per day. The plant features a fully automated production line with automatic harvesting and transfer systems, enabling near-zero human intervention. The facility operates with a Zero-Liquid-Discharge (ZLD) system that recycles all wastewater and generates 500 kW of captive solar power.

IPL Biologicals said the expansion aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s national appeal to reduce the use of chemical fertilizers and promote natural farming and sustainable agricultural practices.

Harsh Vardhan Bhagchandka, President of IPL Biologicals Ltd., said, “Prime Minister Modi’s call for up to a 50% reduction in chemical fertilizer usage is a civilizational imperative for our soil, our health, and our nation. This facility is IPL Biologicals’ direct response to that call. We are scaling our three decades of microbial innovation to provide India’s farmers with advanced, eco-friendly biological solutions that make sustainable agriculture a practical, profitable, and everyday reality.”

“We may need not just one or two, but eight to ten such plants in the future to provide farmers with advanced and eco-friendly biological solutions and make farming more sustainable and profitable,” he added.

Company brand ambassador Yuvraj Singh said, “Our farmers are the true champions, and this world-class facility ensures they have access to the best bio-inputs to protect their land and secure their yields for future generations.” He also expressed concern over the rising use of chemical fertilizers in Punjab.

RSS leader Suresh Soni emphasized the need to minimize chemical fertilizer usage and encourage natural farming to protect soil fertility and public health. He expressed hope that IPL Biologicals’ initiatives would contribute meaningfully in this direction.

Mahesh Bhagchandka, CMD of IPL Biologicals Ltd., said reducing the use of chemical fertilizers is not only important for the environment but has also become a pressing necessity. He said greater adoption of advanced biofertilizers in place of imported chemical fertilizers could reduce farmers’ input costs and lower the country’s fertilizer subsidy burden, while also preserving soil fertility.

He added that such a transition would reduce dependence on fertilizer imports and help save foreign exchange reserves. However, he stressed that policy support from the government would be essential to promote the use of biofertilizers.

With more than 30 years of experience in microbial-based products, IPL Biologicals currently serves farmers in 27 countries through a network of over 8,000 distributors. The company has a portfolio of more than 90 products developed by a team of over 50 scientists at its Technology and Innovation Centre. It currently holds 19 patents, while 37 additional patents are under process. 

The company has achieved a 40 per cent increase in turnover to Rs 290 crore for the 2025-26 fiscal, and aims to expand its market in India and abroad. Its other two manufacturing facilities are located in Haridwar, Uttarakhand. This new facility marks a new chapter in the company’s journey.