Mahindra partners Zee News for India Agri Awards 2011

The Farm Equipment Sector of Mahindra & Mahindra, Ltd. (M&M), one of the world’s top tractor brands and the market leader in the Indian tractor industry, has announced Zee News as its media partner for the Mahindra Samriddhi India Agri Awards 2011.

These awards will recognize contributions by individuals and organizations towards the development of Indian agriculture, thereby enhancing rural prosperity. This initiative is an extension of the company’s Mahindra Samriddhi venture which aims to enhance agricultural productivity through creative farming technologies, thereby leading to an increase in rural prosperity. As part of this concept, several Mahindra dealerships have been transformed into Samriddhi Centres offering the farmer easy access to technological know-how, hybrid seeds, soil and water testing facilities, demo farms, finance and insurance, internet updates and sales and servicing of tractors and implements.

Speaking at the launch, Dr. Pawan Goenka, President – Automotive & Farm Equipment Sectors, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd., said, “Today we are delighted at the launch of the Mahindra Samriddhi India Agri Awards.  These awards are a part of our overall focus on delivering farm prosperity through our involvement in various links to the agri-value chain and help the farmers maximise the value they create.  Our 96 Samriddhi centers are already making a small contribution towards this larger goal.”  

Dr. Goenka further added, “In our endeavour to propel agricultural productivity, these set of awards will recognize the efforts of individuals and organizations who have strived to achieve agri prosperity. We have always played a pioneering role in developments within the agricultural sector in India. Going ahead, we will continue to create higher benchmarks for the agricultural community, under the aegis of Mahindra Samriddhi.”

Mahindra’s Farm Equipment Sector will reach out to prospective applicants through its wide network of Mahindra dealerships which are spread across the country.

The Mahindra Samriddhi India Agri leadership awards 2010 will be presented in the following six categories:

1. Mahindra Samriddhi  Farmer of the Year Award  (Male) 
   Recognition for Farmers who have been instrumental in driving innovation by leveraging modern technology in agriculture, thus changing the agriculture scenario in their region
2. Mahindra Samriddhi  Farmer of the Year Award  (Lady) 
   Recognition for lady farmers who have broken established stereotypes, to be instrumental in driving innovation by leveraging modern technology in agriculture, thus changing the agriculture scenario in their region
3. Mahindra Samriddhi Krishi Sansthan Samman
   Recognition for Public Sector organizations committed to a broad policy on agriculture that has become instrumental in changing the lives of hundreds of farmers
4. Mahindra Samriddhi Krishi Shiksha Samman
   Recognition for Agriculture Universities who have made a noteworthy contribution in the field of agriculture, impacting the lives of Indian farmers
5. Mahindra Samriddhi Krishi Sahyog Samman (NGOs /SHGs working in field of Agriculture)
   Recognition for NGOs / SHGs for purposeful contributions in the field of agriculture, thus impacting the lives of farmers
6. Mahindra Samriddhi Krishi Shiromani Samman (Lifetime Achievement)
   Recognition for lifetime achievement in the field of Agriculture; presented to a renowned personality in the agri space whose contribution is recognized at national and international levels

About The Mahindra Group
Mahindra embarked on its journey in 1945 by assembling the Willys Jeep in India and is now a US $7.1 billion Indian multinational. It employs over 1,00,000 people across the globe and enjoys a leadership position in utility vehicles, tractors and information technology, with a significant and growing presence in financial services, tourism, infrastructure development, trade and logistics. The Mahindra Group today is an embodiment of global excellence and enjoys a strong corporate brand image.

Mahindra is the only Indian company among the top tractor brands in the world. It is today a full-range player with a presence in almost every segment of the automobile industry, from two-wheelers to CVs, UVs, SUVs and sedan. Mahindra recently acquired a majority stake in REVA

Electric Car Co Ltd. (now called Mahindra REVA), strengthening its position in the Electric Vehicles domain.

The Mahindra Group expanded its IT portfolio when Tech Mahindra acquired the leading global business and information technology services company, Satyam Computer Services. The company is now known as Mahindra Satyam.

Mahindra is also one of the few Indian companies to receive an A+ GRI checked rating for its first Sustainability Report for the year 2007-08 and has also received the A+ GRI rating for the year 2008- 09.