IG International & Biotech Consortium Sign Agreement for Propagation of 2.5 mn Rootstocks for Variety of Fruits

IG International, one of India’s leading fresh fruit importers, has announced that it has signed an agreement with Biotech Consortium India Ltd for the propagation of 2.5 million rootstocks for apples, stone fruits, kiwifruit, and citrus fruits. This arrangement will capacitate India to become a hub for apples over the next decade.

With this agreement, Indian agriculture biotechnology will be able to establish itself as a global leader in the export of planting materials. Biotech Consortium India Limited (BCIL) is a public limited company, promoted by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India and set up by All India Financial Institutions including IDBI, ICICI, IFCI, UTI and IFCI Venture Capital Funds Limited.

BCIL has been actively involved in technology transfer, project consultancy, fund syndication, information dissemination, and manpower training and placement related to biotechnology. Since almost three decades BCIL has assisted thousands of clients including scientists, technologists, research institutions, universities, first-generation entrepreneurs, corporate sector, national and international organizations, ministries /departments of the central government, various state governments, banks and financial institutions.

BCIL has played a key role in promoting the Plant Tissue Culture Sector in India and played a key role in establishing the National Certification System for Tissue Culture Raised Plants (NCS-TCP) in the country by facilitating the development of necessary standards. Guidelines and robust traceability portal with support of DBT, GoI.

Acclaimed as the leading fresh fruit importer in India, IG International is entrenched with a renowned reputation for more than 50 years in this market segment. The company’s organized and strategic sourcing system, augmented by a seamless supply chain with a well-connected overseas procurement network, enables them to import best-of-breed fruits from 22 different countries.

Articulating the agreement with Biotech Consortium India Ltd, Tarun Arora, Director of Finance and Operations of IG International, said, “Indian farmers will not have to look outside to get the planting material. We will produce them in India on a scale that caters to the demand of the country. This move will also offer the best quality rootstocks for the farmers. We are working on the topmost rootstocks for our climatic conditions. This will result in higher yields for existing crops.”

The key person from BCIL, Dr. Shiv Kant Shukla a noted Biotech and Plant Tissue Culture Expert who is heading the Plant Tissue Culture Programme (PTCP) of BCIL, believes that tissue culture raised rootstock will transform the agriculture landscape, particularly in the Northern and North-East Region and there is a great need to promote adoption of this technology by progressive farmers by making quality plants available. IGIPL having proven experience in this sector would be a great partner of BCIL’s goal of promoting sustainable agriculture and uplifting the farmer’s income and agri-economy. 

IG International has entrenched its reputation as the prime brand for fresh fruits around the country. Working with them on growing some of the most consumed assortment of best-of-breed fruits through superior quality rootstocks would show the caliber of Indian biotechnology.