Pioneer Hi-Bred to help farmers

Pioneer Hi-Bred, a DuPont business and one of the world's leading seed companies, and Access Development Services, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), on Monday announced their partnership to launch 'Uday', an initiative for Andhra Pradesh farmers.

Built on learnings from previous joint initiatives, the project aims to provide sustainable solutions that will improve technology and agronomic knowledge transfer, supply appropriate farm inputs, and improve market linkages, the company stated in a press release.

In addition to support from Pioneer and Access, the Uday project will rely on field level implementation by a local partner, NGOs, Peace and Krushi, and will engage other organisations and local companies to provide further value to the farmers and their communities.

 

The project will establish community-based satellite agri-business resource centres in Medak, Karimnagar and Nalgonda districts and at over 200 best practice and product farmer demonstration sites. It is anticipated that over 10,000 maize and rice farmers will have access to the services of the Uday centres.

These centres will ensure that with the timely availability of seeds, farmers are able to raise better crops and their income levels will increase.

"The biggest challenge farmers face is in accessing input supplies, technology and markets. Through this initiative, the small farmers' related issues will be addressed," Vipin Sharma, chief executive officer of Access, said.