K.J. Patel, the newly appointed Managing Director of IFFCO, expressed heartfelt gratitude to the Board for entrusting him with this significant responsibility. “I thank the Board for appointing me. I am blessed to have received this opportunity through the kar kamal (noble hands) of Chairman Shri Dileep Sanghani. This post may be high, but the expectations are even higher, I am fully aware of the responsibility and will give my best,” he said.
Reflecting on the legacy of his predecessor, Dr. U.S. Awasthi, Patel recalled the remarkable transformation
IFFCO underwent under his leadership. “When Dr. Awasthi joined IFFCO in 1993, fertiliser production stood at 25 lakh tonnes. Today, it has reached 96 lakh tonnes. The turnover, which was Rs 14000 crore with a profit of Rs 116 crore, has seen tremendous growth. In 2008, the turnover of IFFCO was around Rs 100 crore, and now it exceeds Rs 3000 crore,” he said.
Patel lauded Dr. Awasthi for diversifying IFFCO’s operations beyond fertilisers. “Under his visionary leadership, IFFCO expanded into multiple areas, establishing 9 subsidiaries and forming 5 international joint ventures,” he noted.
He shared a personal memory that reflected Dr. Awasthi’s fearless attitude towards challenges. “I found on many occasions that he was never scared of any challenge. I still remember the 2005 Paradeep acquisition. Frankly, I was scared at the time, but he wasn’t,” Patel recalled.
He also appreciated Dr. Awasthi’s foresight in tackling climate change. “To meet the challenges of climate change, he introduced Nano Fertilizer, an innovation in which we have invested around Rs 1500 crore so far. Currently, Nano contributes 12 percent to our sales, but we are determined to take this share much higher in the coming years.”
Patel highlighted the employee-friendly culture fostered under Dr. Awasthi, citing the example of JIFCO. “His deep commitment to treating IFFCO not just as an organisation but as a family has left a deep impression on me,” he said.
In an emotional moment, Patel recalled a conversation from just four days ago. “Saheb told me he had cleared all stuff from the shelf. I became emotional and told him, ‘Please do not abandon us.’ That understanding of what it means to belong to a family, I learnt it from him,” he concluded.
Shree Udayshankar Awasthi is not only
great person but alsi noble fertilizer
Institution in himself. I have seen his
modernization of Kalol plant which was so old and outdated and converting it to level compitable to new era plants. And also making Paradip plant productive for country rather remain idle depriciating.
I have also worked with Shree K.J.Patel
Sir who is always enthusiastic as ready
to accept challenges all the time
I am very much satisfied to see new.M.D. as he is so capable and
knowledgeable.
Thanks
Its obsurd to see above, the heading is different from what is posted is a pity.