Cargill on Wednesday opened a dedicated feed factory in India and launched its EWOS warm-water feed brand in the general direction of Indian artisanal fish farmers.
The factory, near the town of Vijayawada in Andhra Pradesh region, is “right in the middle of India’s aquaculture industry”, a communique said, adding that the new aquafeed plant was USD 10 million investment. It’s been 30 months since the EWOS investment in Norwegian aquafeed production, and the company is calling the new facility a similar investment in nutrition, this time called Cargill Aqua Nutrition.
Cargill’s Norwegian business appears to be behind the investment, saying that India’s where the growth is, at least for tilapia and other warm-water species.
Cargill currently sells about 30,000 tons of fish feed a year in India. The new plant will have capacity for 90,000 t per year and is aimed at the “region”.
“The new facility positions us to better meet their demand, as the country will soon become the most populous in the world,” Chad Gauger, managing director of Cargill aqua nutrition in South Asia, was quoted as saying.
The new plant is expected to bring around 200 new jobs to the region.
“India presents great opportunities for Cargill and plays an important part in our aqua nutrition growth strategy in Asia”, said Einar Wathne, president of Cargill Aqua Nutrition.
The new feed plant marks the introduction of Cargill’s EWOS brand of aqua nutrition fish feed products to India. Cargill, however, employs over 153,000 in 67 countries.
