Company starts sustainable initiatives to diversify income streams and promote climate-smart farming practices

Marico, an FMCG company in India, celebrated Farmer’s Day in Jalgaon, bringing together over 500 local farmers, SHG members, and schoolchildren to honour and empower the farming community. The event focused on promoting sustainable agriculture and diversifying income opportunities, featuring the launch of a 500kg capacity solar polyhouse dryer to help farmers preserve and add value to their produce.

The inauguration was led by Amit Bhasin, Chief Legal Officer and Group General Counsel, and Shilpa Vora, Chief R&D Officer, alongside farmers and women from SHGs. The solar dryer, designed to boost food preservation, is expected to enhance farmers’ earnings by diversifying their produce into value-added products.

The celebration included educational sessions on sustainable farming and climate-smart agricultural practices. Experts from Krishi Vigyan Kendra shared insights on water conservation, organic farming, and crop diversification. Local farmers were also recognized for their achievements in adopting sustainable practices, with awards given to those who contributed significantly to improving agricultural productivity and sustainability.

Marico’s commitment to empowering farmers also includes its Jalashay water stewardship program, which has created a 13.50 crore-litre water harvesting capacity in Jalgaon, addressing water scarcity and helping farmers adopt water-resilient cropping techniques.

With initiatives aimed at promoting income diversification through projects like the Jan Samruddhi program, which will support the production of moringa powder and banana chips, Marico continues to invest in the region’s future, ensuring a sustainable and prosperous livelihood for the farming community.

Amit Bhasin shared, “Our Farmers’ Day Celebration reflects our ongoing commitment to sustainability and community upliftment. Empowering farmers with innovative practices and sustainable resources is key to building a resilient and prosperous agricultural ecosystem.”

Through these initiatives, Marico reaffirms its dedication to transforming rural livelihoods and fostering long-term environmental sustainability in Jalgaon.