CSR by Monsanto India Ltd.

[Living Farms]

CSR by Monsanto India Ltd. 
 
Profit before taxation - Rs 60 Cr
 
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) ( From Annual Report )
 
Raising our Benchmarks of Progress

 

Sustainable Development

Professional Assistance for
Development Action (Pradan)

 

Pradan and Monsanto Fund initiated a five-year project intending to improve the income of 3,000 poor families in 240 resource poor villages in Kalahandi district, Odisha through Integrated Land and Water Resource Development, Improved Farming Systems and better market linkages. Pradan works with existing SHG members to propagate the benefits of rain water harvesting, land conservation and their judicious use through modern cropping practices.

 

Project SHARE
Sustainable Yield Initiatives – Produce More, Conserve More and Improve Lives

Project SHARE (Sustainable Harvest: Agriculture, Resources and Environment) was launched in 2009- 10, in association with the Indian Society of Agribusiness Professionals (ISAP), a ‘not-for-profit’ organization engaging one of the world’s largest networks of agriculture and allied sector professionals. The Project aims to help over 10,000 small and marginal farmers to achieve higher yields and income by way of agriculture extension services, innovation and skill up gradation for adopting good agricultural practices with ripple effect of 100,000 Maize and cotton farmers. The Project is primarily operational in Adilabad (Andhra Pradesh), Amrawati (Maharashtra), Bundi and Bhilwara districts of Rajasthan.

Project SHARE has:

* Provided effective extension services and other interventions for small and marginal farmers in rain-fed regions to create awareness about quality inputs and agriculture-based technologies

* Boosted confidence of farmers and encouraged them to implement innovative cotton and Maize-based cropping systems

* The Seed-cum-Fertilizer drill which was designed and introduced in 2010 found wide acceptability. It has so far been adopted by 15 project and nonproject farmers in 2011

* Enabled farmers to adopt improved production technologies; over 75% farmers adopted projectrecommended practices for Maize and cotton crops

* Encouraged Maize farmers to adopt plant geometry and line sowing, varietal complex and plant nutrient management resulting in increased crop yield

* Promoted the production of hybrid Maize; hybrid Maize production shot up over 20% during 2010-11

* Introduced integrated crop management practices to enhance farmers’ knowledge base and reduce cultivation cost by Rs. 2,000 per acre

* Implemented water harvesting and resource conservation techniques for sustainable agriculture

* Helped farmers earn higher returns because of better post-harvest practices

* Enabled nearly 3,000 women to adopt Maize and cotton cultivation practices and earn a livelihood through skills development in poultry, goat farming and dal (pulse) processing

Sumitra Devi, 30 years, studied up to the 8th standard I am involved with Project SHARE’s Self Help Group (SHG) where I lead 10 women members in Bhagatpura village in the Mandalgarh block of Bhilwara district. In the first week of March 2012 our SHG commenced a poultry unit with a capacity of 600 birds. Our initial investment of Rs. 84,000 in the first round of production on chicks and feed helped us earn a net profit of Rs. 12,500. Project SHARE mobilized poultry experts, trained SHG members and also coordinated with local banks and NABARD for credit assistance. The additional income helped SHG members improve their quality of life.

Our group plans to now undertake five to six production rounds in a year, with the aim of earning over Rs. 1 lakh, reducing operational costs and maximizing profits. Maize production in the village will also help us in reducing our cost on poultry feed. Besides increasing my own confidence, this has also motivated other women to set up similar units and  change their lives.

 

Monsanto ’s Beachell Borla ug International Scholars Program (MBBISP)

 

Established in 2009, the Beachell-Borlaug International Scholars Program is run in honor of Dr. Henry Beachell and Dr. Norman Borlaug, two of the world’s pre-eminent rice and wheat breeders. Monsanto committed  S$10 million to improve yields in these crops. The primary objective of this program is to develop highly-educated rice and wheat plant breeders to serve as future agricultural leaders.

To date, the program supports 52 students from 21 different countries.

 

For the Class of 2012, 14 scholars representing 7 different countries were awarded scholarships – four of which have been awarded to students from India. Names of the Indian four students awarded with this  scholarship are:

Amandeep Kaur
Punjab University

Navdeep S. Jamwal
CSK Himachal Pradesh Agricultural University

Bharath K. Reddy
Texas A& M University

Bharathi R. Ramadoss
Tamil Nadu University

 

Jamuna Lal, Bhilwara, Rajasthan and Jagdish Kahar, Bundi, Rajasthan

Maize farmers hold approximately 1.5 hectare of land each and practice traditional agriculture. Prior to Project SHARE, each hectare of land required 30 kg seed and yielded an average 2-3 tonnes per hectare. Being part of Project Share we have been able to gain more knowledge about better agronomic techniques and practices. Project SHARE’s innovative seed-cum-fertiliserdrill has helped us immensely and we now use only 20 kg seed per hectare and harvest between 5-6 tonnes per hectare.

 

Luxmi Tomar, Winner of 2010 MBBISP Round II Scholarship 
Haryana Agriculture University
Plant Biotechnology and Molecular Biology, University of California, Davis, USA

The MBBISP fellowship gave me an opportunity to work in a foreign laboratory and learn new techniques in agri-research. It has also helped me realize and re-think our problems in the Indian agriculture sector and
how we can contribute solutions. Monsanto has played a pivotal role in shaping my aspirations and future. Through the program, I aim to educate farmers and create awareness about better farming techniques. It is a matter of pride for India that we have the largest number of scholars (14) qualifying for this scholarship among all participating countries.

Students represent the youth of our country and their progress is indicative of the country’s progress. Agriculture is a career that would never cease to have challenges. It is a very active, competitive and constantly
growing field of research. Since agriculture is the base of our country, there is great satisfaction in it too. My advice to students taking up agriculture for research is to not just think about their own research, but also about the agricultural community.

 

Akshaya Patra Foundation

 

Akshaya Patra Foundation runs one of the world’s largest schoolmeal programs. In partnership with Monsanto Fund, it aims to strengthen nutritional support for the government’s Mid-Day Meal program at Jaipur, Rajasthan. Over the last two years since it has been operational, the foundation has provided nutritional vegetables for the program, reaching over 1.5 lakh students in 1,400 government schools in and around Jaipur.

As a part of this initiative, a kitchen garden across 9 acres near Govindgarh, Rajasthan,was established to cultivate variety of vegetables. The infrastructure included setting up of greenhouses and dehydration plants to enable cultivation/preservation of seasonal as well as exotic vegetables like broccoli, carrots, cabbages, cucumbers, groundnuts, tomatoes, radishes, spinach and green peas.

During 2011-12, the total vegetable yield from this initiative was  over 25,000 kg. Hundreds of farmers have been trained in better agricultural practices to cultivate vegetables requiring special agronomic conditions and facilitate growth of non-seasonal vegetables. Further, our dehydration plant enhances nutritional content of food and ensures use of vegetables throughout the year. Regular visits of the school children to the kitchen garden provide unique exposure to students.

 

New Projects initiated
Deshkal Society
The Deshkal Society and Monsanto Fund joined hands to launch a three-year project to enhance school effectiveness, while improving the quality of teaching-learning practices. The goal of the project is to ensure inclusive social and economic development in elementary education. The project, located in Samastipur and Begusarai districts of Bihar, aims to cover around 180 primary schools in each of these districts.

 

 

Sikshana Foundation : School Nurturing Project
The Sikshana Foundation, along with the Monsanto Fund, entered an area in Karnataka to address the problem of high levels of absenteeism in primary schools. This pilot project covers 30 schools in Harappanahalli taluk, Davanagere District. A baseline assessment of the schools showed that less than 58% of the children attended schools and among those who attended classes. The academic level was also extremely low. The Sikshana team works with teachers and children of these schools to improve measured metrics. Various activities were planned like Sikshana core programs – spot prizes, writing sheet projects, Library
programs and the Teacher Training program were planned. The Teacher Training program includes visits to the homes of students who are irregular in order to motivate parents to send their children to school regularly. At the end of the year, attendance rate in these schools improved to 72%.

The Sikshana staff visits these schools regularly to monitor the progress of students and suggest corrective actions. In the last 7 years since it has been operational, Sikshana has evolved from working in 2 schools to over 1,200 schools.

Mr. Ragunath Reddy,
Block Education Officer,
Chikaballapur, Karnataka

All big achievements in India can be indirectly attributed to the excellent progress in the field of education. Students’ progress, measured in terms of amount of knowledge and quality of skills acquired in schools, is the true precursor of India’s pride.

 

Learning emanates in an environment of love, joy and affection. The School Nurturing project focuses exclusively on nurturing schools and creating an environment where students can expect joyous learning.  Sikshana works in the educationally backward regions, where it is extremely challenging to make students acquire even the basic skills of reading, writing and mathematics.

As a result, attendance in schools has improved. So much so that parents migrating for work now leave their kids behind with grandparents to ensure their education is not disturbed. AIDSaffected students and children of sex workers have been integrated in some schools, after sensitizing other students. Reverse migration has also been made possible, with students from private schools are being admitted to government
schools purely for academic reasons.

 

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) ( From Website )
 
Able. Enable. Sustainable.

 

- By 2050, the world population is set to increase from six to nine billion. Therefore, the world needs to double food production.

- One-in-eight persons worldwide are chronically hungry. And of these, nearly 60 per cent are resource poor farmers.

- The world needs to enhance food production amid limited natural resources and adverse climatic changes. Together, we must meet the needs for increased food, fiber and energy while protecting the environment.

 

The world needs to produce more while conserving more, thus improving farmers' lives.

 

(Source: United Nations & UN Food & Agriculture Organisation)

 

Innovation in agriculture provides the greatest hope for solutions. To meet the food and energy needs of a growing population, while protecting an already wounded planet, we need to employ innovations in agriculture in the decades ahead. Pressures of climate change, hunger, poverty and an already fragile ecology make it imperative for immediate action in implementing these solutions.

 

The Monsanto vision is to achieve sustainability in agriculture. We are committed to developing technologies that enable farmers produce more crops while conserving the natural resources that are essential to their success, thereby enabling them to improve their lives. By 2030, we aim to contribute to this through:

 

At the core of this commitment is Monsanto’s intent to partner with those who are keen to meet the global challenges facing agriculture. This will require new partnerships and a spirit of collaboration across the entire agriculture supply chain.

 

Sustainable Development

 

As an agriculture company, improving farmers' lives is at the core of our corporate and societal commitment. In keeping with our single-minded focus on sustainable agriculture, our efforts are helping enhance yields, incomes, farming convenience and peace of mind.

 

Our commitments help farmers succeed, and in turn, help transform their lives, strengthening Indian agriculture and rural communities.

 

Over the years, we have been able to enable and strengthen farming communities sustainably, through successful partnerships with the state and non-governmental organizations. Through the Monsanto Fund - the philanthropic arm of the Monsanto Company, USA - we endeavor to improve people's lives by bridging the gap between their needs and resources.

 

Through our direct and indirect initiatives in community development, we have made a social investment of ~Rs. 3.8 crores in the areas of sustainable agriculture, education and disaster rehabilitation in 2010-11 alone.

Improving Lives

 

PROJECT SHARE

Articulating our commitment on ground, the Monsanto - Indian Society of Agribusiness Professionals (ISAP) partnership took shape and developed Project SHARE (Sustainable Harvest through Agriculture, Resources & Environment).

 

Through Project SHARE we are working with more than 10,000 small and marginal farmers across 1,000 villages in 22 blocks of four districts spread across Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Rajasthan. The objective of this four year pilot is to augment farm yields and farmer incomes. Enabling farmers to engage in sustainable agriculture is expected to positively impact their socio-economic status while helping produce more and conserve more.

 

The first phase of Project SHARE comprised creating awareness to enlist farmers through a buy-in and commitment to participate for the entire project duration. Thereafter, farmer groups have been set up to facilitate collective impact which has commenced through training programmes and exposure visits. Establishing demonstrations of ideal agronomic practices through live and hands-on practical learning for the second consecutive year has already shown a significant improvement in yields.

 

Access to better inputs, modern production technologies, improved agronomic practices and finally, attractive remunerative market linkages, all combined together are expected to revolutionise agriculture at our target locations. Partnerships with the respective State Agriculture Departments are an integral part of the project’s success through tie-ups with all the local Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs).

 

Finally, to create a household level impact, alternate income generating off-farm avenues are being assessed for the women of the beneficiary households. Effective and complementary efforts will synergise the on-farm and off-farm activities and farmer incomes, thus enabling better access to education, health and social security.

Producing More

 

Monsanto's Beachell Borlaug International Scholars Program

 

Recognizing the importance of rice and wheat in global food security, Monsanto Company pledged $10 million to improve yields in these crops as part of its commitment to sustainable yield. Monsanto's Beachell-Borlaug International Scholars Program is the result of that pledge, established in 2009 in honor of two of the world's most pre-eminent rice and wheat breeders: Dr. Henry Beachell and Dr. Norman Borlaug. The primary objective of this prestigious fellowship program is to develop highly educated rice and wheat plant breeders who can serve as future agricultural leaders. To date, the program supports 52 students from 21 different countries.

 

Monsanto's Beachell Borlaug International Scholars Programme (MBBISP) honours the achievements of the eminent scientists - Nobel Laureate, Dr Norman Borlaug and Dr Henry Beachell - for their contributions to improving wheat and rice yields respectively. Dr Norman Borlaug is credited with saving more than a billion lives from starvation in India and Pakistan in the 1970s through the improved varieties of wheat developed and delivered by him. Dr Beachell’s is credited for his extensive breeding research in developing new varieties of rice, the most popular being the IR8, resulting in double or triple yields.

 

To accelerate breakthrough public sector research in rice and wheat yields - two of the world’s most important staple crops through advanced plant breeding techniques - Monsanto has established a grant of Rs. 50 crores / US$ 10 million and instituted this graduate student training programme, aimed at developing highly trained rice and wheat breeders who show promise as future leaders in the field of agriculture.

 

Rice and wheat are two key crops in India with limited yield gains in the last decade. However with population growing at a rapid pace, this stagnation in yields is a major threat to food security thereby creating a need for such game changing programmes. This programme aims to ignite the minds of bright young Indian researchers to innovate and share their vision for Indian agriculture and help our farmers produce more grain on the same amount of land. Under the MBBISP, students from around the world compete for scholarship grants that provides for student stipend, applicable fees, tuition fees, health insurance, research fees, travel and funds for the collaborating institution and professor.

 

It is a matter of pride that ten Indian students have already been awarded with Monsanto’s Beachell-Borlaug International Scholarships for their advanced plant breeding research in wheat.

Literacy enhancement project with Sikshana Foundation

Sikshana Foundation, committed to improving the educational standards in the public education system partnered with Monsanto Fund on a Literacy Enhancement project in Karnataka. The Project focuses on improving academic standards – ability to read and write, basic computation and expression as per the minimum learning levels defined by the Department of Education, thereby improving learning levels of students in rural primary government schools in the state.

Our partnerships in sustainable development

 

Strengthening nutritional support for Government's Mid - day Meal program with Akshaya Patra Foundation:

 

Akshaya Patra Foundation, implementing one of the world's largest school-meal programs, partnered with Monsanto Fund to strengthen nutritional support for the government's Mid-day Meal program in Jaipur, Rajasthan. This partnership enabled establishing farming infrastructure to provide nutritional vegetables for the Mid- Day Meal program covering more than 150,000 students in 1,400 government schools in and around Jaipur. As part of this pilot initiative, vegetable infrastructure spread across 9 acres of fertile land near Govindgargh in Jaipur was set up to enable cultivation of over 30,000 kgs of carrot, beetroot, brinjal, okra, among others. With the intention of providing nutritious vegetables even during off-seasons, solar dehydrating plants were installed which facilitate storage of vegetables. Green houses have been set up to allow cultivation of vegetables that need special agronomic conditions. In its first year, the project established a saving of Rs. 3 lac on vegetable bills, trained 100 farmers on various farming techniques and enabled practical exposure and education on nutrition to 1,755 students.

Deshkal Society

Deshkal Society and Monsanto Fund joined hands to launch a three-year project to enhance school effectiveness, while improving the quality of teaching-learning practices. The goal of the project is to ensure inclusive social and economic development in elementary education. The project, located in Samastipur and Begusarai districts of Bihar, aims to cover around 180 primary schools in each of these districts.

 

Deshkal Society

Professional Assistance for Development Action (PRADAN):

Pradan and Monsanto Fund initiated a five-year project intending to improve the income of 3,000 poor families in 240 resource poor villages in Kalahandi district, Odisha through Integrated Land and Water Resource Development, Improved Farming Systems and better market linkages. PRADAN works with existing SHG members to propagate the benefits of rain water harvesting, land conservation and their judicious use through modern cropping practices.

 

Pradan

Access Development services

Restoration of livelihoods of farm households in flood affected Raichur (Karnataka) and Mehabubnagar (Andhra Pradesh) districts 2011 to 2014

 

Alternative economic development project with SEED

Monsanto Fund's partnership with the Society for Educational Welfare and Economic Development (SEED) to improve the earnings of 100,000 small-holder farmers and women through better access to micro-credit and in farm and non-farm income generation in Chhattisgarh is one amongst our important commitments to improve farmer livelihoods.

 

The program implemented across 1,000 villages in 12 Blocks of Rajnandgaon and Dantewara districts of Chhattisgarh, worked on empowering underprivileged communities, thereby allowing them to augment their household income and also participate in the nation's development process. The project commenced with awareness creation and dissemination of information to the tribal communities through various education and communication activities on income generation, followed up by formation of 9,000 SHGs/farmer groups for collective economic development. The members of these SHGs were equipped with entrepreneurship skills and financial knowledge by organizing cluster level training programs.

 

Based on the ground conditions and community inputs, the many trades identified for these groups for setting up micro-enterprises and are encouraged to engage in - farming, horticulture, dairy, poultry, piggery, goatery, tailoring and stitching, forest produce processing and basket weaving. Facilitation of credit linkages are expected to continue beyond of the purview of the project.

 

Flood relief and rehabilitation with ADS

In 2009, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh were severely affected by floods in South India - the worst damage that can happen to soil quality and thereby agriculture. Continuing with the Company's relief efforts, Monsanto Fund entered into a partnership with the NGO Access Development Services (ADS) to work on an extended rehabilitation project in the two largely agrarian and highly fertile states. Working in 20 villages of Mahbubnagar and Raichur districts in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka respectively, the three year project aims to rehabilitate some of the worst affected farmers by repairing their losses in terms of sand casting and soil fertility restoration, forming Farmer Producer Groups to conduct agriculture training and federating them in to Producer Business Groups (PBGs). As established by ADS in other parts of the country, the PBGs will be trained and strengthened to become distributors for seeds and fertilizers, taking the co-operatives model a step further.

Equipping teachers to provide quality education to rural children with Bharti Foundation

 

Bharti Foundation's flagship initiative, Satya Bharti School Program, reaches out to over 30,000 children, with particular focus on the girl child, from socially and economically disadvantaged backgrounds by offering them access to free quality education through its 236 village primary schools and one senior secondary school. Through the partnership with Monsanto Fund, teacher training programs were conducted for a period of one year for 72 Satya Bharti Primary Schools across the states of Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan, covering more than 400 teachers and 15,000 children.

 

Fellowship programs to enhance rural livelihoods through agriculture with CTI

Compatible Technologies International (CTI) initiated a Fellowship program to support students pursuing M. Tech. studies in Technology and Development at CTARA (Center for Technology Alternatives for Rural Areas) IIT Bombay. Monsanto Fund, with the common vision of improving the lives of rural households around the world, supported two CTI Program fellowships at CTARA. Graduates from this program are expected to lead development of rural India through professional engagement in Government, Non-Profit and Corporate CSR sectors. Some of them may also turn social entrepreneurs.

 

Improving sustainable agriculture, nutrition and health with United Way of Mumbai

 

United Way of Mumbai, in collaboration the with NGOs, Action for Food Production (AFPRO) and Forum for Rural Development (FORD), partnered with Monsanto Fund, to improve lives of small and marginal farmers in 14 arid zone villages in Andhra Pradesh through strengthening agriculture practices and governance activities. The project focuses on capacity enhancement in identified Gram Panchayats to better access and leverage government schemes to improve agricultural production and livelihood of small and marginal farmers in the project areas. The project has positively impacted more than 1,330 families and 5,700 beneficiaries.

 

United Way of Mumbai and Monsanto Fund also successfully completed a three-year project aimed at ensuring food security for 5,000+ underprivileged households in Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat and Maharashtra initiated in 2008. The concept of kitchen gardens has been well accepted among women. They are now growing various vegetables and fruits in their backyard and fields and are more confident on self development with food and nutrition security. They also practice better hygiene and sanitation habits. Adolescent girls are now aware on menstrual hygiene and women have been educated about proper health care during pregnancy and reproductive child care.

 

For more information please visit
URL: http://www.monsantoindia.com/corporate-responsibility.html

 

Chairman - Sekhar Natarajan
 
Registered Office 
Monsanto India Ltd. 
Ahura Centre, 5th Floor
96, Mahakali Caves Road
Andheri (East)
Mumbai 400 093 
Tel   :              022 - 28246450       / 67029851
Fax  :  022 - 28244707 / 67023361
Email     : information.india@...  / investorcare.india@...
Website : http://www.monsantoindia.com
 
Plant Locations

 

Herbicides:

 

1, 4 & 5, Madhuban Industrial Estate,

Madhuban Dam Road,
Rakholi, Silvassa - 396240
Union Territory of Dadra & Nagar Haveli.

 

Seeds:

 

• Moka Road,

Srivara Village,

Bellary - 583103,

Karnataka

• Survey No. 677-679,

Village: Lalgudi Malakpet,

Shamirpet,

District: Ranga Reddy - 500078

Andhra Pradesh

 

URL: http://www.monsantoindia.com/annualreports/2012/MIL%20AR%202011-12_Final.pdf
Source: Monsanto India Ltd. Annual Report 2011-2012, Page No.: 38 to 41

--
Living Farms is an organization of concerned individuals opposed to agrochemical TNCs, genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and chemical pesticides. It promotes and advocates for ecological agriculture and pushes for genuine agrarian reform as the foundation of food security & sovereignty and social justice. Living Farms works with farmers’ organizations and networks with social action groups ,scientists, health workers/professionals, environmentalists, and academics 

Living Farms  Plot No.1181 / 2146, Ratnakarbag-2,
Tankapani Road,
Bhubaneswar - 751018,
Orissa.
India
Ph-->91-674-2430176
Fax- 91-674-2430616

"How firm we stand and plant our feet upon our land determines the strength of our children's heartbeats."
Poolly Koutchak, Unalakleet, Alaska

[bidyut Mohanty]

Contractors are in full force

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Bidyut Mohanty,

Koraput. Odisha.

************************************************************************************
All our dreams can come true,

if we have the courage to pursue them.

[Ranjan Panda]

Bidyut bhai,

There are many more contractors who preach 'morality' and 'ethics' when it comes to others but eke out of such contracts from corporate houses.

I am sure they will not be able to fool the people of the state any longer.

Thanks and regards,

Ranjan

Ranjan K Panda

Convenor

 

Water Initiatives Odisha, India: Fighting water woes, combating climate change... more than two decades now!

 

Lead, Water Core Group, NGO Forum on ADB, Manila 

 

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Water talks to me, I speak for Water...

Water Initiatives Odisha (WIO) is a coalition of civil society organisations, farmers, academia, media and other concerned, which has been working on water, environment and climate change issues in India for more than two decades now.