Proof of the sunflower-love relationship between India and Pakistan is the Bangalore-based company Advanta India.
Last year, Advanta, a wholly owned subsidiary of United Phosphorus Limited, sold sunflower seeds worth $6.21 million to Pakistan
"We are happy to announce that we have made significant sales to Pakistan," H Sateesh Hegde, chief operating officer, Advanta India told Commodity Online.
He said the company currently sells seeds in Pakistan through its Australia-based arm Pacific Seeds International.
"Our company has 15 varieties of sunflower seeds in the market. One of our sunflower varieties (PAC36) has been notified by the ministry of agriculture, department of agriculture and co-operation for 15 years," Hegde said.
He said the notification gives a company's notified seed products priority over non-notified seeds when selling to the government.
Pacific Seeds International sells sunflower seeds in 14 countries through its brands like Hyoleic 41, Hysun 38 and Sunbird 7. The company is also developing an international production strategy that utilises both Australian and off-shore production (India, Thailand and Argentina)
centres aimed at improving margins, he added. Advanta India has operations in the United States, Australia, China, Latin America and Europe.
The company has been reorganised into its present form following UPL's acquisition of the businesses previously held by Advanta Netherlands Holdings and the amalgamation of Uniphos Seeds and Bio-Genetics.
The company is engaged in the research, production and sales of a range of hybrid seeds for cereals and oilseed crops. On the Indian operations, Hegde said that in the financial year 2006-07 and seven-month period-ended October 31, 2006, sunflower seeds accounted for 21.7 per cent and 27.9 per cent respectively of the company's sales.
Encouraged by the booming sales in sunflower seeds, Advanta India plans to hit the market with an Initial Public Offering soon.
