 HML Tea Plantations | |
| Company type | Public |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Kochi, Kerala, India |
| Parent | RPG Group |
| Website | harrisonsmalayalam |
Harrisons Malayalam is an Indian agricultural business corporation, based in Kochi, Kerala and a part of the RPG Group. It has a history that goes back to over 150 years. It cultivates between 14,000 ha – 26,000 ha (information varies) of its own land, and processes products from other farmlands in its neighbourhood.[1] In addition to banana, cardamom, cocoa, coffee, coconut, pepper, and vanilla, its primary products are rubber, tea, and pineapple. Harrisons Malayalam is the largest producer of pineapples in India,[2] the largest producer of tea in South India, and is the largest employer in the region.[3] In 2021 the company is awarded 6th rank in Great Place to Work in India, and 16th rank in Great Place to Work Asia.[4]
In 1907, United Kingdom-based Harrisons & Crosfield established Malayalam Plantations Ltd. in South India. In 1983, 34% of Malayalam Plantations were sold to Indian nationals, leaving Harrisons with 40%. The following year, Malayalam Plantations merged with Harrison & Crossfield's other interests in India to form Harrisons Malayalam.[5] It was acquired by the RPG Group in 1988, and Sanjiv Goenka was the chairman.[6][7] When the RPG Group's businesses were divided between the two brothers Sanjiv and Harsh, the assets of Harrisons Malayalam were vertically split and put under two separate management teams.[8] Sanjiv continued as chairman of the existing company, and Harsh got control of the demerged unit Harmony Plantations.[9]
The company has 10 tea estates and 10 rubber estates, and rubber factories at Suryanelli (tea) Kumbazha (rubber) and Achoor.[10][8] It employs around 13,000 people in rural Kerala, and more than 100,000 people are dependent on the company for their livelihood.[3]