ICICI Foundation Signs MoU with ICAR to Increase Farm Output

ICICI Foundation for Inclusive Growth (ICICI Foundation) - the CSR arm of ICICI group has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) for training & capacity building of farmers.

The MoU was signed between Saurabh Singh, President of ICICI Foundation and Dr. Trilochan Mohapatra, ICAR Director General in New Delhi.

According to the deal, the ICICI Foundation through its ‘Rural Livelihood programme' will leverage ICAR's knowledge as well as research & enrich the existing training programmes for cultivators, spanning over 1,000 villages across 29 states in India.

A statement said that the Foundation together with ICAR will assess and design several new courses for improving farm productivity in various commodities.

The two will also conduct collaborative programmes in sharing technical knowledge & know-how for training & capacity building for the benefit of farmers. In addition, they will take up research as well as development activities.

Furthermore the collaboration will also focus on an integrated farming approach with allied activities such as horticulture, dairy, fisheries, apiculture, etc. to ensure that cultivators are able to earn a sustainable livelihood.

ICAR Director General Dr. Trilochan Mohapatra said that "This MoU is a significant development that will lead to broad dissemination of the expert knowledge residing with the ICAR institutes, universities & the Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) including application of various research that are undertaken".

President of ICICI Foundation, Saurabh Singh said that the collaboration with Indian Council of Agricultural Research will focus on developing large agri-value chains.

It is important to mention that under the Rural Livelihood programme, ICICI Foundation has trained & enabled sustainable livelihood for around 5,00,000 people until now.