HUF, WRG ink pact to develop water saving tech for agri-sector

Hindustan Unilever Foundation and Water Resources Group (2030 WRG) have partnered to develop innovative solutions to save water in the agriculture sector.
The partnership will also establish the 'Ganga Multi-Stakeholder Action Forum', which will develop inclusive and collaborative approaches to rejuvenate the Ganga Basin.
The move assumes importance as city society platform 2030 WRG estimates 50 per cent water deficit in India by 2030.
"The partnership aspires to create one of the largest participatory programs globally on demand-side management of water in the agriculture sector," Hindustan Unilever Ltd (HUL) CEO and Managing Director Sanjiv Mehta said in a statement.
A key focus is scientific and impact-driven action through a results measurement framework at the state level to measure water savings and agricultural productivity enhancement, he said.

The innovative solutions will target agriculture sector, which uses around 80 per cent of the country's water resources. It will impact one million farmers and save up to four trillion liters of water.

"This is a critical aspect of our partnership, as the Ganga Basin is home to 450 million people. Over 60 per cent of them depend on agriculture for their livelihoods," 2030 WRG Executive Director Anders Berntell said.
The partnership will adopt a multi-stakeholder approach to promote efficient water-use practices and technologies among farmers, incubate new models, knowledge, and tools to drive behavior change and catalyze replication of best practices.

HUL's subsidiary Hindustan Unilever Foundation was established in 2010. It has initiated 18 projects across river basins in 13 states in the country.