Godrej Agrovet launches Samadhan for farmers, becomes first Indian company to win IPOS certification

• The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmer Welfare has set a goal to cultivate 1,000,000 hectares of oil palm by 2027 under the NMEO-OP scheme
  

• Godrej Agrovet has set a goal to add 60,000 hectares of new oil palm plantations in  the next five years

Godrej Agrovet has introduced a ground-breaking initiative called Samadhan, a one-stop solution center for oil palm farmers under its Oil Palm business. Providing a comprehensive package of knowledge, tools, services, and solutions to farmers, Samadhan aims to be a critical enabler in the Palm Oil industry and assist oil palm farmers in optimizing their yields by adopting the latest agricultural techniques and boosting their productivity.

As a part of the Samadhan initiative, Godrej Agrovet will establish 50 Samadhan centers across India by 2027. Each center intends to support the planting of 2,000 hectares of oil palm and help farmers achieve sustained productivity in mature gardens through the use of modern agricultural technologies and expert advice. Through this initiative, Godrej Agrovet Ltd. plans to share global best practices with Indian oil palm farmers and help the farmers to adopt these practices across geographies. It will also help to support farmers to avail of developmental finance, government subsidies/schemes, and other benefits.

Speaking about the initiative and certification, Balram Singh Yadav, managing director, Godrej Agrovet, said, "A holistic approach to sustainability in the oil palm sector includes not just green cultivation practices but also income security for the farmer. As the leading player in the palm oil business in India, we see it as our responsibility not only to educate farmers on sustainable palm oil plantation processes but also to drive the sustainability agenda in palm oil plantation processes. Our Samadhan initiative is one of several aimed at supporting the growth of the sector and the prosperity of the farmer. We are delighted that our efforts are being recognized and are honored to be the first company in India to win IPOS certification."

Also, the company has become the first in the country to be awarded a verification Certification under the Indian Palm Oil Sustainability (IPOS) Framework. The IPOS Framework, established by the Solvent Extractors Association of India with assistance from Solidaridad, the Indian Institute of Oil Palm Research, and SOPOPRAD, has been created for the Indian industry and lays down a set of environment-friendly, economically viable, and socially beneficial practices and guidelines. Aimed at facilitating the well-being of farmers while ensuring that the growth is sustainable from environmental and social perspectives, the certification further reinstates the sustainable practices adopted by the company's oil palm business.

Sougata Niyogi, chief executive officer - Oil Palm Plantation, Godrej Agrovet, said, "With more than thirty years of experience in the oil palm business, Godrej Agrovet is the largest developer and producer of Crude Palm Oil in India. The business plays a vital role in driving the sustainability agenda in the production of Oil Palm and has therefore strived to educate farmers on sustainable palm oil cultivation practices continuously. This certification is a result of our commitment to supporting farmers to enhance their farm management skills, that lead to improved productivity. We are grateful to the Indian Palm Oil Sustainability Framework (IPOS) for recognizing our efforts and look forward to achieving greater milestones shortly."

The National Mission on Edible Oil - Oil Palm (NMEO-OP) has generated a new sense of excitement and momentum in the oil palm industry since its launch in August 2021. The program is a landmark initiative from the Indian government that aims to promote the long-term sustainable development of oil palm and provide additional support to new farmers, particularly in the Northeast region, to help them overcome the challenges of starting a new farm. The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmer Welfare has set a goal to cultivate 1,000,000 hectares of oil palm by 2027 under the NMEO-OP scheme. The program's introduction of the Viability Gap Payment (VGP) for long-term sustainable development and increased incentives for new farmers are two key features that make it unique and supportive of the industry.

Godrej Agrovet, a diversified agri-business company and a pioneer in the oil palm sector in India, is aiming to add 60,000 hectares of additional oil palm plantations over the next five years to support the long-term sustainable development of oil palm in India under the National Mission on Edible Oil - Oil Palm (NMEO-OP) launched in August 2021. The company has developed Samadhan to achieve this goal.