Godrej Agrovet Limited (GAVL), a leading diversified agri-business conglomerate in India, has announced a significant leadership transition. Sunil Kataria has officially assumed the role of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Managing Director (MD) of the company, effective September 1, 2025, for a five-year tenure.

A Wealth of Experience

Kataria brings over two decades of experience in marketing, sales, and leadership roles from prominent organizations such as Marico Limited, Godrej Consumer Products Limited, and Raymond Limited. His appointment, initially announced in May 2025, marks the culmination of a carefully planned succession strategy.

Strategic Vision for Growth

In his new role, Kataria is set to steer Godrej Agrovet into its next phase of growth and innovation. His priorities include:

• Unlocking value across the company's diverse portfolio
• Investing in capability building
• Strengthening go-to-market strategies
• Scaling up high-potential businesses

Commenting on his new position, Kataria stated, "I look forward to leading Godrej Agrovet, a company with a strong foundation and legacy of impact. With each business at a different stage of evolution, my priority would be to unlock the value across the portfolio by investing in capability building, strengthening the execution of our go-to-market strategy, and scaling up high-potential businesses."

A Smooth Transition

Kataria succeeds Balram Singh Yadav, who served as the company's Managing Director for more than three decades. Yadav's tenure saw Godrej Agrovet grow into a strong agri-business conglomerate, diversifying into consumer-facing and CDMO businesses while empowering farmers to enhance their productivity.

Nadir Godrej, Chairman and Managing Director of parent company Godrej Industries Limited, expressed confidence in the transition, stating, "With a wealth of experience in building businesses across challenging operational contexts, Sunil is aligned with our intent to scale up Godrej Agrovet's different businesses while prioritizing profitability and strengthening our brand offerings."

Looking Ahead

As Godrej Agrovet embarks on this new chapter, the company reaffirms its commitment to driving innovation, advancing sustainability, and improving farmer livelihoods. With its diverse portfolio spanning animal feed, crop protection, oil palm, dairy, poultry, and processed foods, GAVL is well-positioned to continue its mission of enhancing agricultural productivity and contributing to India's food security.

The leadership change comes at a time when the agricultural sector faces both challenges and opportunities. Kataria's experience and strategic vision are expected to play a crucial role in navigating these dynamics and propelling Godrej Agrovet towards sustained growth and value creation for all stakeholders.

Godrej Agrovet Limited , a leading player in India's diversified agri-business sector, has made a significant move in the crop protection market with the launch of 'Ashitaka', a new herbicide specifically designed for maize crops. This innovative product, developed in collaboration with ISK Japan, aims to address one of the major challenges faced by maize farmers in India: effective weed control.

Tackling Weed Infestation in Maize Cultivation

Weed infestation, particularly during the initial growth phases, has been a significant factor impacting maize productivity in India. Ashitaka offers a powerful solution to this problem, providing effective control over both grasses and broad-leaved weeds when applied at the 2-4 weed leaf stage.

Strategic Importance for Indian Agriculture

The launch of Ashitaka comes at a crucial time for India's maize sector. As the country ranks 4th globally in terms of maize acreage and 5th in annual production, the demand for maize has been increasing steadily. This growth is driven by the expanding middle class and the rising need for animal protein, starch, and other industrial products that use maize.

Rajavelu NK, CEO of Godrej Agrovet's Crop Protection Business, emphasized the company's mission, stating, "At Godrej Agrovet, our mission is to deliver innovative, research-driven solutions that empower Indian farmers and uplift farming families by future-proofing agriculture against environmental and market challenges."

Key Features and Benefits of Ashitaka

1. Effective Weed Control: Ashitaka is designed to reduce crop-weed competition, allowing for better utilization of soil moisture and nutrients.
2. Support for Critical Growth Stages: The herbicide aids in plant health during crucial phases like flowering and grain filling.
3. Optimal Dosage: The recommended application is 50 ml/acre with 400 ml/acre of surfactant at the 2-4 weed leaf stage.
4. Yield Improvement: By controlling weeds early, Ashitaka helps in reducing weed-related yield losses, which are known to worsen under weather stress.
5. Quality Enhancement: The product contributes to better grain quality and more consistent output.

Market Rollout and Future Plans

Godrej Agrovet has initially launched Ashitaka in key maize-growing areas of Telangana, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu. The company plans to expand the product's availability across all maize-growing states in India in the coming months.

Anil Choubey, GM – Marketing, Crop Protection Business at Godrej Agrovet, highlighted the product's potential impact, saying, "Ashitaka's effective weed control in maize reduces crop-weed competition, enabling better use of limited soil moisture and nutrients, and supporting plant health during critical stages like flowering and grain filling."

Addressing Broader Agricultural Challenges

The introduction of Ashitaka aligns with the need to address significant challenges in the maize sector, including limited access to quality seeds and inputs. Moreover, it comes at a time when climate change poses an additional threat to maize production through extreme weather events, changing rainfall patterns, and increased incidence of pests and diseases.

By providing farmers with this innovative herbicide, Godrej Agrovet aims to contribute to improved yields, enhanced profitability, and increased resilience in maize cultivation across India.

The launch of Ashitaka represents Godrej Agrovet's commitment to research-driven solutions in agriculture and its focus on empowering Indian farmers with cutting-edge crop protection technologies.