Select farmers to see WC final at Wankhede

A select group of farmers will get the opportunity to cheer India during the Cricket World Cup final match at the Wankhede stadium.

Eighty-four farmers have already watched the ICC Cricket World Cup played at seven locations across India while three farmers from Maharashtra will get to see the final match under the farmer engagement programme of PepsiCo, a global sponsor of ICC.

"It is a dream come true for me to watch the cricket match at Wankhede stadium. I had never imagined that I would ever watch the final match.I am sure India will win the game," Mahadev Mandave (47), a farmer from Kumathe village in Satara, Maharashtra told PTI here.

Another farmer Ram Todkar (35) from Manchar village in Pune, who will watch the match is all excited to witness the final game from close quarters.

"I am very happy. Have no words to express my happiness. I am sure Sachin Tendulkar will make a century and we will win the match," Todkar said.

The farmers were chosen based on their commitment to delivering quality crops over the years.

"PepsiCo has always believed in developing sustainable partnerships in agriculture and this initiative is a small gesture to thank our partner farmers. It gives us immense satisfaction to see the excitement on the faces of the farmers," PepsiCo India Region, Foods CEO Varun Berry said.PepsiCo, which is the largest processor of potatoes in India, procures potatoes for manufacturing chips.

"We have established a model of partnership with over 22,000 farmers. It has improved their livelihoods as we provide support to them through bank loans, quality seeds, disease control packages, weather insurance and latest technological practices," Berry said.