The partnership aims to train 25,500 farmers through the ProTerra Foundation
ADM inked a three-year partnership with Coromandel International Limited (Coromandel), India’s pioneering agricultural solutions provider, through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that provides responsible and sustainable agriculture solutions to soybean farmers in India. The partnership aims to train 25,500 farmers through the ProTerra Foundation, a certification program that assures non-GMO quality and sustainable agriculture production.
The three-year partnership is a pilot program to determine if sustainable agriculture practices result in improved soil quality. If the results are favourable, the two companies will extend training to farmers in Karnataka and potentially tap into their network of farmers to foster the integration of responsible practices across the value chain and the farming ecosystem.
Commenting on the partnership, Amrendra Mishra, MD Oilseeds Country Manager at ADM India, said, “This partnership seeks to equip local farmers with the necessary knowledge and skills needed in integrated nutrient management to conduct responsible agricultural practices that meet the sustainability standards of agricultural production. With our network of farmers and Coromandel’s farming expertise, we hope to make a positive impact that addresses both the ongoing environmental and food security challenges we face today.”
ADM will help to organise the training, collect soil samples for testing, map soil nutrient indices and conduct field demonstrations and visits to the selected farm plots. Training will be conducted by field representatives of ADM and Coromandel to ensure widespread understanding and knowledge among farmers. The first phase of training commenced and took place in the Latur, Osmanabad and Beed districts of Maharashtra, where ADM has a farmer procurement network.
Through regular training focused on the use of fertilisers and technologies that can drive productivity gains, farmers can put their resources to better use, saving time, money and effort over the long term. Jitendra Kolpe, Associate Vice President & Divisional Nutrition Head – West Division, Coromandel International Limited, Pune, added, “This MoU will add value to soy farmers’ agricultural cycle, where Coromandel’s role is to support them through the technicalities of farming to ensure that their crops receive the right nutrition to reduce soil degradation. The output is higher yields and quality which ensures remunerative prices to farmers with a consistent volume of procured quality crops.”
