Coca-Cola and DCM Shriram, IFC, Solidaridad have partnered to introduce the “Meetha Sona Unnati” project. It is focused on sustainable sugarcane development.
Partners have been working to help address the challenges of soil health, the increasing cost of cultivation, and poor yields, all confronting smallholder sugarcane farmers in the area.
Sustainable Agriculture is one of the main focus areas of this project. There are currently more than 100000 farmers in the value chain here in India and Coca-Cola is committed to working responsibly with them in developing and implementing crop-specific programs, improving yields and protecting natural resources.
Meetha Sona Unnati invests in training and capacity building for farmers, especially women farmers, and strengthens the extension services and mill management systems to accelerate adoption of sustainable production standards.
Interventions undertaken through the project include autumn planting methods, water efficiency techniques, mechanization, and the launch of Mobile Van Theatre (MVT).
MVT offers video documentaries on sustainable agriculture practices to 8,000 farmers a month. The training module covers water savings and efficiencies, and social and human rights related to farming.
Another important component of the project is educating on the negative impacts of the age-old practice of crop-residue burning, which is a health hazard and a source of pollution.
Over the next three years, Meetha Sona Unnati hopes to reach an additional 48,000 sugarcane farmers who supply four DCM Shriram sugar mills across five districts of Uttar Pradesh: Lakhimpur, Hardoi, Farukkhabad, Sitapur and Shahajahanpur.
The envisioned impact includes having conducted training on good agriculture practices (GAP) and human and social workplace rights; 35,000 hectares under GAP, Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and efficient water-use; and improved demand-side water efficiency.
The Key highlights of the Meetha Sona Unnati Interventions are-
- Intercropping
- Soil management
- Water efficiency techniques like Trash mulching, Furrow irrigation
- Mechanization
Reference- Coca-Cola Newsroom, Financial Express, Business Standard