Cargill, TechnoServe to Educate 10,000 Maize Farmers, to Invest $2 Million in Regenerative Agriculture

Commodity major Cargill has partnered with TechnoServe to introduce the 'Srishti' initiative, aiming to promote regenerative farming and sustainable agriculture in the maize-producing region of Davanagere, Karnataka, over the next four years. The project plans to empower approximately 10,000 maize farming households by training them in regenerative agriculture techniques to improve soil health, carbon sequestration, and water quality.

Cargill, with a commitment to scaling regenerative agriculture globally, will invest around $2 million in implementing the 'Srishti' initiative. The program will also address critical challenges like water conservation, access to finance, and enhanced market linkages, taking a comprehensive approach to sustainable agriculture development.

Simon George, President of Cargill in India, stated that regenerative agriculture is crucial and the program would have a lasting impact on farmers' livelihoods and productivity. Leveraging Cargill's expertise in the food and agriculture domain and TechnoServe's success in sustainable development programs, the partnership aims to drive positive environmental outcomes in India's agricultural landscape.

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Punit Gupta, Country Director of TechnoServe India, revealed that the 'Srishti' initiative will support 10,000 farming households in adopting regenerative practices like bund plantation of crops, cover cropping, and low tillage. It will also focus on expanding water harvesting capacity through farm ponds and borewell recharge structures, as well as promoting sustainable use of community land for afforestation of degraded pastureland.

The program will collaborate with farmer-producer organizations (FPOs) to raise awareness among farmers and facilitate access to inputs required for regenerative practices, ensuring better market linkages and remunerative prices for their produce.

The 'Srishti' initiative aligns with the Indian government's push for sustainable agriculture and supports the adoption of environmentally friendly practices. The partnership between Cargill and TechnoServe aims to make a meaningful impact on farmers' lives while contributing to environmental conservation.

The announcement of the initiative took place in the presence of Ronald P. Verdnok, Minister Counsel, Office of Agricultural Affairs, US Embassy, along with the leadership teams of Cargill and TechnoServe. Verdnok praised Cargill's investment in strengthening India's agricultural sector, emphasizing the significance of such collaborations in driving economic growth and sustainable development in the country.

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