IndiGoReach, the corporate social responsibility (CSR) arm of IndiGo, partnered with Grameen Sahara, a non-profit society, to empower women farmers in the Assam-Meghalaya border areas in 2018. The program is aimed at enhancing the livelihoods of the poor and underprivileged through scientific cultivation and promotion of spices such as turmeric, ginger, black pepper and king chilli, which are endemic to this region.The project has already made a significant impact, with 1,670 participating women farmers (out of the targeted 1,500 farmers) benefiting from improved capacities, and 1,155 acres of land brought under integrated cropping practices along with spice cultivation. This has resulted in a threefold increase in income levels of the families targeted under this intervention from an average annual income of INR 42,000 in 2018 (baseline) to INR 1,04,560 as on September 30th, 2022.
As a result of the project, Pratishruti Pure Agro Pvt Ltd (PPAPL), a Farmers Producers Company (FPC), has been formed with community groups comprising of rural women farmers, as shareholders. Pratishruti is a commercial outlet that sells agricultural produce and other regular items, thereby creating a sustainable model through the project.Additionally, a Common Facility Center (CFC) has been established to support all farmers in the area, to bring their agricultural produce for processing, packaging, and value addition to the product. This is envisaged to create market linkages for the farmers. The CFC is supported by the Ministry of Medium and Small Enterprises (MSME), Government of India.
IndiGo had partnered with Grameen Sahara in 2018 and has continued working with the organization since then. The success of this program is a testament to the positive impact that corporate social responsibility initiatives can have on communities, and the importance of sustainable models that can create lasting change.
