January : Godrej Agrovet Limited (Godrej Agrovet), a leading
agri-business company, today announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Maharashtra State Rural Livelihoods Mission (MSRLM-UMED), to
empower rural farmers and promote sustainable agriculture. The collaboration
aligns with the United Nations’ observance of 2026 as the International Year of
the Woman Farmer (IYWF 2026) which spotlights critical role played by women in the
agrifood systems and calls for actions to close gender gaps and strengthen
livelihoods. This three-year partnership aims to mobilize Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and women farmers to adopt Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) and Integrated Pest Management (IPM), improving
farm productivity and creating resilient livelihoods.
In its first year, the program will focus on nine key cotton-growing districts; Nagpur,
Amravati, Yavatmal, Washim, Parbhani, Jalgaon, Beed, Akola, and Nanded; covering
over 5,000 women farmers and more
than 50,000 acres of farmland
while engaging 100 SHGs per district. The initiative will scale up to support
over 5000 SHGs across Maharashtra over the three-years, with plan to expand
beyond cotton to maize and other crops.
Under
the MoU, Godrej Agrovet will be working closely with MSRLM-UMED to conduct training workshops on
GAP, IPM and safety practices; organize farmer field schools and demonstration
plots; and distribute safety kits. MSRLM-UMED will facilitate mobilization and
coordination through its SHG and Krishi Sakhi networks while Godrej Agrovet will
fund and implement the program.
Commenting
on the partnership, Shri Nilesh Sagar (IAS), CEO of the Maharashtra State
Rural Livelihoods Mission (MSRLM-UMED), stated, "Today’s
MoU is in sync with our mission empowering rural women by strengthening the
grassroot institutions and enhancing their livelihoods. Leveraging our network and
Godrej Agrovet’s expertise, our intent is to ensure that our women farmers are well
equipped with scientific crop management practises to manage their farms
efficiently and improve the socio-economic fabric of rural Maharashtra.”
Sunil
Kataria, CEO & MD, Godrej Agrovet, commented, "Indian agriculture is at a
pivotal moment where productivity, sustainability, and inclusion must advance
together. At Godrej Agrovet, we see women farmers as central to this
transformation. As an organization committed to driving sustainable growth in
Indian agriculture by combining research and community engagement, we are proud
to partner with MSRLM-UMED. Through this partnership, we aim to equip women
farmers with practical high-impact agronomy so they can achieve better yields
and uplift their families. We are committed to building models that scale
responsibly.”
Highlighting the technical focus of
the initiative Rajavelu NK, CEO – Crop
Protection Business, Godrej Agrovet Ltd, added, “Maharashtra
is one of India’s most important cotton-growing states, and the challenges
faced by its farmers demand a science-led, region-specific approach. With right
intervention at the right time being a key, this collaboration will act as a
catalyst not only for immediate agronomic improvements but also to create a
replicable, knowledge-led crop protection framework that can be scaled across
geographies and crops over time.”
Emphasizing the broader impact of the
collaboration, Rakesh Swami, Group
President – Corporate Affairs, Godrej Industries Group, said “At Godrej
Industries Group, People and Planet are at the heart of our purpose. This initiative with MSRLM-UMED is a strong example of how industry and
public institutions can collaborate to drive meaningful social impact. Empowering
women farmers not only enhances agricultural productivity but also strengthens
rural communities thereby creating long-term impact for the state and country.”
By enabling women farmers to adopt
scientific practices, access market networks, and take informed decisions, the
initiative seeks to deliver lasting improvements in productivity, livelihoods,
and rural resilience across Maharashtra.