De Heus India inaugurated a $17 million animal feed manufacturing facility in Rajpura, Punjab, marking one of the largest investments by the Dutch company in the country's livestock sector.
The factory, which features separate production lines for cattle, buffalo, poultry and pig feed, has an installed capacity of 180,000 metric tons with potential expansion to 240,000 metric tons. The facility employs European technology and automation systems to produce animal nutrition products.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann attended the inauguration alongside Marisa Gerards, Dutch ambassador to India, Nepal and Bhutan, exactly two years after the groundbreaking ceremony. The facility is expected to create more than 300 direct jobs and generate opportunities for hundreds of local suppliers and distribution partners.
"By investing in Punjab, De Heus aims to support local agriculture and contribute to the sustainable growth of India's livestock sector," said De Heus chairman Co De Heus.
The factory will source raw materials domestically, which officials said should stimulate regional agricultural businesses. De Heus India Managing Director Rutger Oudejans said the facility would provide on-farm services and training to independent livestock farmers.
The company has incorporated sustainability features including a biomass boiler and systems to reuse steam and water to reduce environmental impact.
De Heus Animal Nutrition, headquartered in the Netherlands, operates in multiple countries across Asia. Company officials described India as central to their global expansion strategy, citing the country's growing livestock sector and its role in food security for the world's most populous nation.
The Rajpura facility represents De Heus India's evolution from a small operation to a major manufacturing presence in the country's animal nutrition industry.
