The 'M' in chlorophyll

GREEN SME

Nandan Biomatrix

Turnover (2008-09): Rs 91.4 crore PAT (2008-09): Rs 9.2 crore No. of employees: 90 Year of incorporation: 1998 Headquarters: Hyderabad Company profile: Engaged in manufacture of biofuels and nutraceuticals

V. Bhaskar Rao (L), MD: “We realised jatropha held immense potential in the biofuels space”

It may not be that apparent, but there’s definitely money to be minted in the green business.

From a seed capital of Rs 10 lakh — pooled in by four partners — to a turnover of Rs 91.4 crore in 11 years, Nandan Biomatrix has indeed come a long way. Today, as the company is poised to start production of biofuels from the jatropha plant, it finds itself at the threshold of a windfall.

“By 2015, we are aiming to get to revenues of around Rs 1,000 crore, have 800,000 hectares of biofuels plant coverage from the 40,000 hectares today in 10 states (currently, in five states) and produce 2.5 million tonnes of bio-diesel per annum (today, this has just moved from lab to pilot scale as jatropha, the crop that it is involved with, has a long gestation and takes 2-3 years to produce seeds),” states V. Bhaskar Rao, Managing Director, Nandan Biomatrix.

The company initially began with an entry into the business of growing and selling natural herbs such as aloe vera, stevia and chlorophytum borivilianum (an aphrodisiac herb) and slowly moved into trading of the natural extracts and then into processing of standardised herbal extracts. Later, it got into processing of natural herbs and production of nutraceutical products.

“It was around 2004-05 that we started examining the jatropha plant for its medicinal qualities, but realised it held immense potential in the biofuels space,” explains Rao, when asked on how the company recognised the biofuels niche as a business opportunity. The company has an integrated approach towards its business—ranging from agricultural R&D through to catchment area development and conversion, including processing technology.