Move designed to capture precision agriculture business in India
Calgary, AB – November 16, 2009 – (TSX:HEM) Hemisphere GPS has launched a new version of the Outback S-Lite™ GPS guidance system. The new product carries over all the proven features of the existing versions and now supports the Punjabi language. The Outback S-Lite compact size, expandable features and sub-meter accuracy make it an ideal entry-level GPS guidance solution for farming applications including spraying, spreading, broad-acre tillage and seeding applications.
The Punjabi Outback S-Lite recognizes Gurmukh? script and is targeted at the Punjab state in the northern agriculture region, which is known for its larger farms compared to the rest of India. According to the Government of Punjab, the region has more than 46 million acres in cultivated farmland and houses India’s largest farming tractor population. Punjab produces 1% of the world’s rice and 2% of the world’s wheat and cotton, and with the highest per hectare fertilizer consumption in India, it consumes more than 9% of the total fertilizer consumption of all India.
“The Outback S-Lite has both the features and the price point to compete in India’s growing marketplace,” says Dr. Mohamed Abousalem, Vice President of Marketing and Business Development for Hemisphere GPS. “We acknowledge the tremendous opportunity that exists in India with the largest arable land after the U.S. We will continue to adapt our products to meet the needs of this and other growing markets.”
With the release of the Punjabi language capability, the Outback S-Lite guidance system now supports more than 20 international languages. By making our Outback Guidance® products more inclusive of growth market regions worldwide, Hemisphere GPS continues its commitment to broadening its global market share.
About Hemisphere GPS
Hemisphere GPS designs and manufactures innovative, cost-effective GPS products for positioning, guidance and machine control applications in agriculture, marine and other markets. The Company holds numerous patents and other intellectual property and owns leading brand names, including Outback Guidance® and BEELINE®, two of the leading brands in precision GPS for ground agriculture. The Company is headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, with major product development, sales, and marketing facilities in Arizona, Kansas and Australia. Hemisphere GPS is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) trading under the symbol “HEM” and is one of the TSX Cleantech designated companies. For more information about Hemisphere GPS, please go to www.hemispheregps.com.
The above disclosure contains certain forward-looking statements that involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond Hemisphere GPS’ control, including: the impact of general economic conditions, industry conditions, increased competition, the lack of availability of qualified personnel or management, fluctuations in foreign exchange or interest rates, stock market volatility and market valuations of companies with respect to the announced transactions and the final valuations thereof, and obtaining required approvals of regulatory authorities. Hemisphere GPS’ actual results, performance or achievement could differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by these forward-looking statements and, accordingly, no assurances can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will t ranspire or occur, or if any of them do so, what benefits, including the amount of proceed, that Hemisphere GPS will derive there from.