Nagpur : The Himalaya Drug Company, India’s leading Wellness Company, collaborated with NAAM foundation, a non-governmental organization, with an aim to enable and help small farmers through contract farming, in Maharashtra. Through this program, Himalaya aims to drive the seed-to-shelf policy and rigorously adopt eco-friendly practices to support the environment.
With an objective to promote the economic empowerment of marginalized farmers, Himalaya engages with them directly through contract farming and herb cultivation.
“Committed to making contract farming accessible and profitable to farmers, we have significantly increased the quantity of herbs procured through this initiative. The Agrotech team at Himalaya tests the soil and water before sowing the seeds for the crop and closely monitors the entire program. The seeds provided to the farmers will be given free of cost and the price is predetermined at the beginning of the contract. Hence, farmers are aware of the price they will get, thereby eliminating the concerns of market fluctuations,” says Dr. U V Babu, The Himalaya Drug Company.
In line with this collaboration, NAAM Foundation will be the one-point contact for Himalaya to execute the contract farming program in Maharashtra. NAAM Foundation will help and support Himalaya in mobilizing and educating the farming community to choose herb cultivation.
“NAAM Foundation is proud to partner with Himalaya, to work with farmers in Maharashtra, especially in the Marathwada and Vidarbha region. We are monitoring the daily activities at the ground level with the technical support provided by Himalaya. Farmers get the benefit of a sale price that is agreed upon, and do not have to make trips to the mandis or worry about the procurement of seeds. Himalaya has also created a provision to offer comprehensive training to farmers on crop cultivation and harvesting, which would be of great use to them,” says Mr Makarand Anaspure, Founder NAAM Foundation and a veteran Marathi film actor.
Contract farming program is of mutual benefit to all the stakeholders, providing consistent and assured income opportunity for farmers and regular cultivation of herbs grown exclusively for Himalaya.
For more information, please visit: www.himalayawellness.in
