Haryana-based Aroma Agrotech, which sells basmati rice under the AAT Aroma brand, plans to diversify into food manufacturing, including wheat flour, textiles and renewable energy, said the company’s Director Mayank Garg.
“We will begin expanding our activities in the coming fiscal year. We will start foraying into food processing, renewable energy and textiles,” he said in an online interaction with businessline.
In renewable energy, the company plans to produce solar photo-voltaic cells. In the textiles sector, it plans to manufacture blankets.
Huge opportunity
“It’s a very huge opportunity for India to grow in the textile industry. Opportunities are arising as China has lowered its production of blankets and it is focusing on tech-related textiles. We will target the Middle-East for the blankets as well as some parts of Europe,” he said.
In the food sector, besides looking to manufacture wheat flour, Aroma Agritech plans to foray in producing sooji (semolina), and maida (refined wheat flour).
“We plan to expand our exports to 80-plus countries. In the coming 3-4 years, we are targeting at least 25 plus countries to cover our AAT Aroma brand,” said Garg.
Zero carbon emission
A feature of Aroma Agrotech is that it is close to zero carbon emission as it has been continuously lowering emission using bio-effluent treatment plants and installed solar energy. “We have our own 2 MW cohabitation plant, and wet scrubbers have been installed on all our factories,” he said.
A rice miller and exporter based in Karnal, Aroma Agrotech currently exports to over 44 countries in the world, including private labels. Launched in 2004, the company has a daily turnover of 800 tonnes of rice, including the grain procured from the market. It mills at least 1,000 tonnes of paddy every day. At least 70 per cent of the rice it produces at its 5 milling units is exported.
Aroma Agrotech exports to countries such as the US, UK, Middle-East, Saudi Arabia, Australia and some parts of Europe. “Our main market is Saudi Arabia, UK and Oman,” said Garg.
In full compliance
On compliances required in different countries, he said the company began complying with various regulations two years ago. This includes pesticide-free shipments.
The company exports basmati rice under its AAT Aroma brand andin the domestic market, the grain is sold under the AAT brand.
On exports, Garg said shipments of basmati rice have been low in volume and value this fiscal year compared with last year. “The value of exports is down at least 20 per cent, with prices ranging around $800 a tonne compared with $1,100 a year ago,” he said, adding that Aroma Agrotech exports 2.5-3 lakh tonnes annually.
