Project SHARE to Help Improve Farmers' Lives
Monsanto recently launched Project SHARE (Sustainable Harvest - Agriculture, Resources, Environment) in India. The project is Monsanto’s fourth partnership under its commitment to sustainable yield—produce more, conserve more and improve farmers’ lives.
Project SHARE is a four-year pilot project that aims to improve the socio-economic conditions of 10,000 small-marginal cotton and corn farmers—from 1,100 villages, across three states in India—Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan—to help them improve yield and income.
“Some farmers have a problem getting a positive cycle of higher productivity,” Gyanendra Shukla, Monsanto India corporate affairs lead, said. “So in addition to Bollgard® cotton, it will take new sustainable models and partnerships.”
The project was announced during India’s Sustainable Yield Initiative Employee Town Hall on Feb. 20.
“I do not see Project SHARE as CSR [corporate social responsibility], Jerry Steiner, Monsanto executive vice president corporate affairs and sustainability, said during the town hall. “This is an opportunity to show how our products can change lives and help create an environment that protects the investment and innovation."
Monsanto has partnered with Indian Society of Agribusiness Professionals (ISAP) – a non-profit entity, to develop the project.
“ISAP brings its expertise in agriculture extension services, rural and social development, market linkage and capacity building around the country,” Jyotsna Bhatnagar, Monsanto India CSR lead, said. “The organization also brings its relationships with union and state governments, which will supplement our FTO efforts. We will jointly reach out to policymakers to show how our farmers can produce more by conserving more.”
Steiner signed the Project SHARE Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with ISAP CEO Rajeev Dar, following the town hall.
“Our partnership with Monsanto on Project SHARE will develop a sustainable model that provides small and marginal farmers access to technology, better inputs, agronomic practices, and market linkages to improve farm productivity, thereby making farming a viable proposition,” Dar said.
Through the Project SHARE program, farmers also have access to educational materials, intensive hands-on training and field-level demonstrations, farmer groups to enable collective bargaining power, and increased exposure to state universities with agricultural focuses, Krishi Vigyan Kendras and social development programs for farmers’ wives.
On, Feb. 20, Steiner also discussed Project SHARE and Monsanto’s commitment to sustainable yield during the Confederation of Indian Industry’s (CII) Sustainable Agriculture through Technology, Practices and Partnerships seminar in New Delhi.
“We need to increase food production sustainably, in the face of rising demand, limited natural resources and climate change,” he said. “Yield-enhancing, innovative technologies are a potential solution that can help farmers earn higher incomes and thereby impact their socio-economic status. Monsanto’s more than four-decade partnership with Indian farmers is a part of our company’s commitment to improve crop productivity and help make India a global leader in agriculture.”
The seminar focused on agriculture’s key imperatives and requisite policy interventions. The keynote address was delivered by T.N. Kumar, India’s secretary of agriculture and cooperation, and attended by more than 100 stakeholders representing the ag industry, R&D institutions, NGOs and the Indian government.
Monsanto Company is a member of BIO’s Excellence Through Stewardship(SM) (ETS) Initiative. This product has been commercialized in compliance with the ETS and Monsanto Product Launch Stewardship policies, after meeting applicable regulatory requirements in key export markets with functioning regulatory systems. Any crop or material produced from this product can only be exported to, or used, processed or sold in countries where all necessary regulatory approvals have been granted. It is a violation of national and international law to move material containing biotech traits across boundaries into nations where import is not permitted. Monsanto encourages growers to talk to their product or grain handler or purchaser to confirm their buying position for this product. Excellence Through Stewardship(SM) is a service mark of Biotechnology Industry Organization. ALWAYS READ AND FOLLOW PESTICIDE LABEL DIRECTIONS. Bollgard® is a registered trademark of Monsanto Technology LLC. ©2009 Monsanto Company.
