A Taiwanese company has carved out a niche selling seeds and production know-how, capturing 90 percent of the market for certain varieties of premium fruits and vegetables in India.
Kaohsiung-based Known-You Seed Co, which expanded its operations to India in 1999, is a supplier of papaya, watermelon, muskmelon, tomato, sweet pepper, chili, cucumber and cauliflower in the country, company representatives said in a recent media interview.
Wang Chao-chieh (王昭傑), general manager of Known-You’s Indian subsidiary, said the company has promoted premium produce in the country over the years through seed exports and joint collaborations with local farmers.
Photo: CNA
“While we also conduct trials on breeding regular types of vegetables and fruits, we are eyeing the high-end market,” Wang said.
For instance, Know-You’s “Red Lady” papaya commands up to 90 percent of the market, while a variety of muskmelons called “Kundan” holds about 30 percent of the Indian market, Wang said.
The Indian subsidiary, which is based in Pune City, has expanded to 150 employees, Wang said.
The company also has 10 smaller offices in key agricultural regions across India, he said.
The subsidiary has entered into contracts with as many as 800 seed retail stores in India and expanded its operations with new facilities, including laboratories, quality control, and research and development departments, he said.
In addition to boosting on-site production and establishing distribution hubs, Known-You is carrying breeding programs to develop seeds of Indian varieties for customized services, said Wang, who has worked in the country since 2006.
Wang said he hoped that further localization could reduce the communication time between the Indian branch and its parent company in Taiwan, enabling quicker responses to meet the needs of Indian farmers and customers.
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