“Plant your hope in healthy soil”, is the motto of Hyba Seeds, a Microbial Encapsulation technology-based company producing biofertilisers in the form of capsules.
The company’s mission is brilliantly encapsulated in its motto because that is what it promises through its products: healthy soil. Because when farmers (or anyone involved in organic farming) start planting seeds or seedlings, they are also sowing their hopes. “We see ourselves as their fellow stakeholders in that beautiful process,” says Sukhmeet Singh, managing director.
The age of biofertilisers
The company’s biofertilisers come in the form of capsules and are based on the technique of Microbial Encapsulation, a cutting-edge, patented technology created by IISR-ICAR (Indian Institute of Spices Research). In this method, the related microorganism is preserved in a gelatin capsule to improve the soil’s nutrient solubility, growth and yield.
Five of these capsules are currently available from Hyba Seeds: Zinc Staar Caps, N.P.K. Staar Caps, Potash Staar Caps, P.S.B. Staar Caps, and Azoss Staar Caps.
Sukhmeet shares, “We wanted to start a seeds business but somehow we landed in biofertilisers and we saw big scope and opportunity where we can do something innovative in agriculture practices and do well for our mother earth and our future generations.”
The term “biofertiliser” refers to a material that contains living microorganisms that, when added to soil, seeds, or plant surfaces, colonises the rhizosphere or inside of the plant and encourages development by boosting the supply or availability of primary nutrients to the host plant.
The challenges
Speaking about the challenges, Reena Kundra (director) recalls, “The biggest one we faced almost daily was people asking us: how can a tiny capsule do so much!?”
The solution and answer to that is simple, as Reena briefly outlines the genesis of the products. She says, “The underlying premise is straightforward: each of capsules contains a certain healthy bacteria – potassium mobilisers, N-fixers, etc, that addresses one among the five deficiencies linked to soil health challenges faced by the Indian organic community. There are about 1 billion in number per capsule when in immobile state but they activate when they come in contact with water and can then be applied through drip or drenching.”
A chemical-free future
According to Sukhmeet there is both a push and a pull in the biofertilisers sector in the country. He elaborates, “We, the farmers, the manufacturers, the marketers, etc – all of us see the benefits biofertilisers present: organic produce , yes of course, but also so much more. But there’s also a heavy pull which is from the consumer. Post the COVID 19 pandemic (and even before that), there’s been an increased health and safety consciousness , the consumer wants to invest in healthy, natural, chemical-free. They are also willing to pay for it. But the best part ? Even that premium/difference between organic and conventional/chemical is diminishing by the day.”
“Bio-fertiliser capsule technologies like ours are proof that there exist solutions that have a potential to scale up and in the process offer the added ease of transportation, ease of use, storage and so much more,” he adds.
For the future, Hyba Seeds has big plans. The company is focused on making agriculture practices chemical free. Additionally, the company is also striving to build a platform with demonstrable outcomes where its products will lower the usage of chemical fertilisers, enhance soil quality and inspire farmers to adopt chemical-free agricultural techniques.
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