Newsstardom : Patna, 16th. March, 2023. Coca-Cola India along with DeHaat today hosted a felicitation ceremony in Patna to celebrate and acknowledge the farmers of the state.
30+ farmers were honoured for displaying their exceptional productivity in horticultural growth of the fruit Litchi in the region. Coca-Cola India in partnership with DeHaat had undertaken Project Unnati – Litchi. The program has been designed to diversify the livelihood of farmers and empower them with the knowledge and skills necessary to cultivate high quality Litchis and increase their profitability.
The state of Bihar produces majority of Litchi grown in India. Due to traditional practices of Litchi cultivation, Bihar experiences lower levels of productivity. One of the reasons for low productivity is also the lack of exposure of farmers to new and modern techniques. Project Unnati Litchi helps farmers implement High-Density Plantation method, efficient agricultural processes, end-to-end training, along with amplifying and supporting farmers in mastering the cultivation techniques and post-harvest management. Under the Project, more 80,000+ farmers are being trained and have received skill development in agri-tech to cultivate high-quality Litchis. Along with this, over 3000+ acres of land has been rejuvenated for Litchi cultivation in Bihar.
Rajesh Ayapilla, Director, CSR and Sustainability, Coca-Cola India and Southwest Asia, said, “We are proud to have played a role in empowering the farmers of Bihar and helping them achieve their goals. Through the project, we work on revitalising existing orchards, rejuvenating senile orchards, and educating farmers to enhance their livelihood and bring about a positive social and economic impact in their lives”.
Adarsh Srivastava, Co-Founder and Director, DeHaat, said, “With best sustainable practices and innovative agri-technology, we have capacitated the farmer community to adopt modern and efficient methods of cultivation. This inspiring passage of change has been instrumental in improving the socio-economic activity of the region through livelihood generation and enhancement of income levels. Through High Density Plantation techniques, the production and yield of high quality of Litchi is possible, and this modern agri-tech is, therefore, crucial for farmers’ growth and impactful rural development”.
Project Unnati Litchi has aided in the development of a more resilient and sustainable farming community as well as created new opportunities for farmers. The farmers demonstrated exceptional dedication and commitment to their livelihood, and their success is a testament to the impact of investing in farmer education and diversifying their income sources.
Vipin Kumar Pandey, litchi farmer, Vaishali district, said “Project Unnati Litchi helped me learn about high density farming technique and its management. Through engaging training sessions and workshops, I am now able to cultivate higher quantity and quality of Litchis. This has also enhanced my income and livelihood”.
About Project Unnati:
Project Unnati is a flagship initiative by Coca-Cola India which represents the company’s key
initiatives on enhancing sustainable agriculture practices. Through Project Unnati, Coca-Cola
India taps into the productive potential of an array of fruits – Apple, Orange, Mango, Litchi and
Grapes. Project Unnati entails capacity building, and skill development training of the farmers
along with innovating hi-tech agricultural and farming practices. Spanning over various states across the country, Project Unnati empowers local Indian farmers and inculcates horticultural innovation and growth.
About Coca-Cola India
Coca-Cola in India is one of the country’s leading beverage companies, offering a range of healthy, safe, high-quality, refreshing beverage options to consumers. Since its re-entry in 1993, the company has been refreshing consumers with its beverage products. Its brands are some of the most preferred and most sold beverages in the country, with Thums Up and Sprite being the top two selling sparkling beverages. The Coca-Cola system in India is contributing in its own small way to building sustainable communities through community initiatives under World Without Waste, Fruit Circular Economy, water stewardship, women empowerment, and many others.
About DeHaat:
DeHaat™ is one of the fastest growing start-ups in the Agri-Tech sector and one of the very few companies providing end-to-end solutions and services to the farming community in India. We are building AI-enabled technologies to revolutionise supply chain and production efficiency in the farm sector. Founded by the alumni from IIT Delhi, IIT Kharagpur, IIM Ahmedabad and other top institutes – DeHaat is now a fully funded start-up with growth rate of 3-4x annually. The impact we have created at grass root level over the last 8 years of our operations has been phenomenal, as recognized and felicitated by NASSCOM, Forbes, ET, Niti Aayog and Bill Gates Foundation.
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