On the occasion of the beginning of the new financial year IFFCO MD Dr U S Awasthi has penned a letter to his friends and followers. Besides other things, MD seems to harp on the power of Hope, a state of human mind which acts as the constant motivator from within. But he also counsels to get ready for the constant changes happening around by equipping oneself with latest training and tools.
Excerpts:
Dear friends
‘Hope’ and ‘change’ are the buzzwords in the times that we live in. Government are formed around the world using these words, companies are selling everything from salt to aeroplanes by crafting advertising campaigns around them.
As a farmers’ cooperative institution producing and selling fertiliser in a controlled market environment, and is thriving in one of the fastest growing economies in the world. Today we also have to believe in the power of ‘change’ and ‘hope’. Moreover, we would have to embrace the terms with all its undertones and undercurrents.
With a ‘hope’ that good times are ahead of us and believing that ‘change’ is the only constant we have to usher in the new Financial Year. But before I talk of the future its important to reflect on the past.
In FY 2015-16, we produced a total of 86.3 Lakh Metric Tons of fertiliser (46 Lakh Metric Tons of Urea and 39.6 Lakh Metric Tons of Complex fertilisers). For their stellar performance and environmental friendly manufacturing practices our manufacturing units have received various awards from the Fertiliser Association of India (FAI), International Fertiliser Association (IFA) Bureau of Energy Efficiency amongst others. Besides this all our plants have achieved their target production, capacity utilization all this with minimum energy consumption which is undoubtedly one of the best in the fertiliser industry in India).
The Hon’bl President of India and the H.M. King of Jordan formally inaugurated our JIFCO plant in October 2015. We have high hopes with the JIFCO project and I am sure this project will be a proud feather in our cap.
To further incorporate environment friendly practices we have started using Solar Energy wherever possible and the required infrastructure has been put in place in almost all our offices and manufacturing units. Our ambitious Energy Saving Project (ESP) incorporated in 2014 to drastically save energy in producing Urea is on track and we aim to complete in the set time. Which will further improve our operations with a minimal environmental footprint.
Besides a stellar production in FY2015-16 we also witnessed an equally outstanding dispatch and sales performance this year that surpassed all our expectations. This has been possible with the indefatigable zeal and dedication of people in the marketing team of IFFCO.
I would also like to congratulate our Finance team for achieving more than budgeted profit.
I would like to wish all the employees of IFFCO for the stellar overall performance it’s because of their relentless efforts that this has been possible. I would also like to thank the Chairman, Vice-Chairman and the other distinguished members of the IFFCO board for their direction and cooperation.
Friends, on 3rd November 2016 IFFCO will enter into the 50th year of its existence. It’s a milestone that very few companies and ever fewer employees get to witness. We all should consider ourselves lucky to be a part of such a great institution that has traversed such a long journey to become one of the respected business institutions not only in India but the world today.
Starting 3rdNovember, 2016 we would start our year long ‘Golden Jubilee Celebrations ‘. I urge every employee of IFFCO to join us in this celebration and volunteer selflessly to make the celebrations a grand success. Let us all ‘hope’ and promise that the next phase of IFFCO is even bigger and better.
Let us all take this milestone to become an agent of ‘change’ to make the world a better place. One that values fellow humans, one that cares about the environment and most importantly values other living beings. The 21st century has the best technology and best amenities but unfortunately the world is devaluing basic human qualities like love, compassion and moreover of peaceful coexistence.
Let us be the harbinger of change. But remember all the change starts with you. As Mahatma Gandhi put it subtly: –
“Be the change you want to see in the world”
Lastly, I wish all of you the best of luck for the new financial year (2016-17) and thank our Chairman Sh. B.S Nakai, our Vice- Chairman Sh. N.P Patel and all the Directors on the board of IFFCO for their continual support and direction. I would also thank all the employees of IFFCO , IFFCO Employees Union and IFFCO Officers Association. I am equally thankful to all our Joint Venture partners, Department of Fertilizers, Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperation along with the Indian and International Media for their valuable support and assistance from time to time.