In their concerted stride towards mitigating the effects of climate change, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Syngenta Foundation India (SFI), and Syngenta India Pvt. Ltd. have signed a significant Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the Foundation Day of ICAR. The collaboration aims to enhance training and capacity-building programs for farmers and rural youth, focusing on climate-resilient agriculture practices and agricultural skill training through ICAR's extensive network of National Research Institutes, Regional Stations, Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), and Agricultural Universities.
Dr Himanshu Pathak, Director General, ICAR, said, "This partnership is a major milestone in our efforts to equip farmers and rural youth with the necessary skills and knowledge for sustainable and climate-resilient agriculture. By leveraging the strengths of ICAR, Syngenta Foundation, and Syngenta India, we can reach the grassroots level and make a substantial impact."
Under this agreement, ICAR institutes and KVKs will actively participate in training programs organized by SFI and Syngenta India and vice versa. The KVKs would extend these learnings to a wider farmers’ base through their extensive network. The collaboration will focus on capacity building and extension activities, including the adoption of climate-resilient agriculture practices, safe and proper use of crop protection chemicals, and the use of precision agriculture tools such as drones, IT, IoT, and AI-based techniques.
In fact, the objectives of this MoU align with Syngenta’s new sustainability commitments, which focus on: Higher yields, lower impact; Regenerate soil and nature; Improve rural prosperity; and Sustainable operations. Syngenta India has been working extensively on climate-resilient practices including soil health, regenerative agriculture, precision farming and possesses in-built capacities to extend the knowledge through the network of Agri Entrepreneurs along with SFI.
Susheel Kumar, Country Head and MD, Syngenta India Pvt. Ltd., highlighted the importance of this collaboration, saying, "Our quality R&D, climate-resilient practices and many decades of experience of working with farmers enable us to contribute significantly to this collaboration. Having worked with farmers and rural youth through a series of innovative programs, we consider this as yet another decisive step forward in enhancing the quality of life for smallholder farmers and rural youth and contribute to our efforts at mitigating the challenges of climate change."
Dr KC Ravi, Chief Sustainability Officer, Syngenta India Pvt Ltd highlighted how this MoU was also in sync with Syngenta’s unique I Rise (Inculcate Rural India Skill Enhancement) initiative, designed to engage rural youth in agriculture and provide them with appropriate skills and help them to explore dignified and sustainable income earning opportunities in agriculture sector. This program was initiated with the pilot project in 2023 to train 1000 rural youth in 3Es approach i.e., Educate youth in agriculture through the training and mentoring program, engage them in Agri sector through employment, entrepreneurship, or by becoming a lead farmer and elevate their livelihood income.
Rajendra Jog, Executive Director, Syngenta Foundation India, highlighted the collaboration's potential, stating, “Over the years, we have developed a huge network of agri-entrepreneurs (AEs) who are trained in modern agriculture practices and extend their knowledge and knowhow to millions of farmers across the country. Our partnership with ICAR and KVKs will enable us to leverage our network of AEs to extend comprehensive training to many more farmers and rural youth."
The partnership also aims to promote efficient agronomic practices, support KVKs, agri-entrepreneurs, dealers, distributors, and farmers through awareness and education programs, and enhance mechanization solutions in selected clusters. The parties will explore the use of AI and ML techniques to provide expert advisory services to farmers, helping them optimize input usage and reduce costs.
The staff of ICAR Research Institutions and KVKs will be encouraged to publish literature related to training programs and evaluate studies, with support from Syngenta Foundation and Syngenta India Pvt. Ltd. for printing and distribution.
This partnership marks a significant step towards a more inclusive and resilient agricultural sector in India. The IRISE (Inculcating Rural India’s Skill Enhancement) program aims to increase the participation of rural youth in agriculture by empowering them with knowledge and skills in agriculture, ICAR, SFI and Syngenta India are committed to driving sustainable agricultural development and improving livelihoods across the country.
