interview2019 
SCRIPTING NEW SUCCESS STORIES IN AGRICULTURE: PRACHI WORKS PVT. LTD.
Agriculture forms the backbone of our state’s economy. Thus it is of paramount importance to constantly use sophisticated technologies and advanced equipment to boost agricultural activities and support the farming community. And Prachi Works Pvt. Ltd., the leading agricultural machine and equipment manufacturing company in Odisha., has been contributing to the agricultural growth of the state by providing innovative implements to farmers at the most affordable prices for over three decades now. Led by a husband-wife duo, Santanu Pradhan (Managing Director) and Manjubala Panda (Director), the company has accomplished a highly coveted industrial journey to become a reputed and recognized brand manufacturing high quality farming implements at par with international standards. The duo has not only shown how innovation can be a game-changer for agriculture, but also demonstrated that by retaining the core values and correct ethics, you can steer a company to envious heights.
“From childhood, I was always inclined towards agriculture and wanted to do something for the farming community. After completing my education, I shifted my base to Bhubaneswar to materialize my dreams of starting a firm. Thus Prachi Works Pvt. Ltd took shape on a humble beginning at Mancheswar Industrial Estate in 1988. We first manufactured wick-stoves (or batti-chullah) for efficient burning of wood fuel,” recollects Pradhan who quit his job in Delhi to start his venture.
Though the initial phase for Prachi was filled with hardships and criticism, the strong determination and hard work of Pradhan and his team helped them to sail through all odds with ease. Prachi tasted huge success when they manufactured multi-purpose stoves and community stoves that were sold like hotcakes those days. Since then, they have never looked back.
Post that, they decided to completely shift the focus on manufacturing agricultural machines and equipment. “We started our manufacturing activity from ‘Trench Hoe’ and different garden tools and other related equipment which were hugely accepted by the farmers. We then tried to upgrade our technology and build something innovative which would supplement the farmers. Thus, Low lift hand Pumps and Krusaka Bandhu Pumps were manufactured by us which were low-cost, farmer-friendly and portable to use,” he gushed, adding that Prachi used to organize several workshops and camps for farmers at the grassroots to make them aware of the products and their utilities.
Prachi was also the first company in the state to manufacture high-quality agricultural equipment like Power Plough, Rotavator, Hand winnower, Paddle Thresher, Power Thresher, etc. “Being a farmer-friendly company, our objective was to lower the burden of farmers by helping them provide the latest machineries and cutting-edge technology so that they can farm with ease. This motivated us to manufacture various agricultural machines especially for the farming community. We use the best quality of raw materials and sustainable engineering designs for manufacturing the implements of international standards. They are all designed and manufactured in compliance with the latest industry standards,” Panda said with a smile.
Today, they manufacture Axial Flow Paddy Thresher, tractor operated, power tiller operated and engine operated paddy thresher as well. Prachi holds the distinction of being the numero uno company in the state for Axial Flow Paddy Thresher. That apart, Prachi’s “Rotary Tiller” and the innovative “Mobile Rice Huller” are hugely popular among the farmers.
Prachi has truly lived up to its tagline that reads “Improving Agriculture, Improving Lives”. Years of hard work and innovation of Prachi has culminated into many successful farming stories. At present, most of the farmers are well-off and economically sound after using their products. “Farmers are our brand ambassadors. What Prachi is today is because of their unconditional support and faith in us. We have always stood by them and will continue to do so in the future. When we hear about their success stories, it gives us immense pleasure and satisfaction beyond words,” he said.
Prachi is backed by a state-of-the-art production facility well-equipped with machine tools for manufacturing processes. It is further complemented by a dedicated team of highly trained and experienced workforce. The company is supported by a highly-skilled R&D team led by Pradhan and its continuous efforts to bring innovative products and solutions for the Agriculture Sector.
Currently, the company’s sales network has a strong presence across the state. They are receiving orders from nearby states like Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal and Tripura and aim to expand their market network to other Indian states in near future.
Interestingly, the husband-wife duo has made the most of their shared values, trust, and effective communication to run the company together. “I feel extremely lucky that my life-partner is also my company-partner. Though our working styles are different, we complement each other at our workplace every time,” Pradhan said adding that while he looks after the R&D and production departments, his wife handles the marketing and other crucial departments.
Pradhan has a word of advice for aspiring entrepreneurs. “One has to constantly develop new ideas in mind to survive the otherwise quickly-evolving market. Think big in life. Work hard and focus on bigger goals,” Pradhan said.
The company is mulling to scale up its production and focus on manufacturing more innovative farm implements in the future. “At Prachi, the quest for new innovation and products never stops. We aim to constantly bring new farming technologies to the state and contribute to the economic development of farmers,” he concluded.
Written By: by Subhojit Panda
Image Source: Google
