Ravi Annavarapu on lifelong learning
From Careers & Conversations | Dr. Ravi Annavarapu | CEO - Calibre Chemicals | KJSIM · · K J Somaiya Institute of Management
“What I took from being a researcher is not the specific technical knowledge but the ability to learn and the confidence that I can learn anything — learning how to learn has been my biggest takeaway.”
On , Ravi Annavarapu, Director of Sales & Marketing and President of FMC India at FMC Corporation, spoke about lifelong learning during Careers & Conversations | Dr. Ravi Annavarapu | CEO - Calibre Chemicals | KJSIM on K J Somaiya Institute of Management.
About Ravi Annavarapu
Ravi Annavarapu, President of FMC India and Southwest Asia, has been discussing the company's product launches and outlook for the agricultural sector. In November 2024, he stated that the agrochemical sector was "turning the corner" after a difficult period, noting that while the kharif season saw mid-single-digit growth due to excess rains, the rabi season was expected to be strong due to full reservoirs and good groundwater. He highlighted the launch of a new herbicide for wheat called Emva, based on the active ingredient Isoflex, describing it as one of the first global launches for FMC and stating it would help control weeds and improve yields. Annavarapu also discussed FMC's pipeline of 14 new mode-of-action chemistries to be launched globally, with India as a priority market, and the company's work on application technology including spray machines and drones. In earlier appearances, Annavarapu emphasized FMC's focus on sustainability and water conservation. He noted that FMC had committed to being a net-zero emissions company by 2035 and had installed 45 water purification plants in India reaching nearly 88,000 farming families. He also discussed the company's investment in precision agriculture through a partnership with a local firm called Tartan Sense, and its work on drone spraying. In a 2023 product launch event, he stated that FMC's India business had grown from 300 crore rupees in 2014 to over 3,000 crore rupees, and that the company aimed to reach 5,000 crore rupees in the next five years. He also described FMC as the second largest agrochemical company in India and the largest in the insecticide segment.