Roots Foundation and PI Industries Collaborate for Project Sahyog 2024: Safeguarding Sustainable Agriculture Practices with Responsible Agrochemical Use

Project Sahyog is the result of a ground-breaking partnership between Roots Foundation and PI Industries, which aims to advance sustainable agricultural techniques. This initiative seeks to raise awareness among farmers in Punjab, Haryana, Uttarakhand, and Uttar Pradesh about various agricultural methodologies, with a primary emphasis on environmental sustainability, economic empowerment, and entrepreneurial development.

Challenges in Punjab and Haryana

The agricultural landscapes of Punjab and Haryana have long been dominated by chemical farming practices, a legacy of the Green Revolution. However, this dependency on chemical-intensive agriculture has underscored the importance of judicious agrochemical usage to safeguard the environment and ensure long-term sustainability.

Objectives of Project Sahyog

Project Sahyog aims to address these challenges by advocating for responsible agrochemical use and providing farmers with the necessary tools and knowledge to adopt sustainable farming practices. Key objectives include:

1. Educating farmers on the benefits of proper agrochemical application for sustainable farming.

2. Developing entrepreneurship capabilities among farmers by providing equipment and knowledge sharing opportunities.

3. Supplying state-of-the-art spraying equipment to enhance productivity and crop yield.

4. Training farmers on the correct usage of spraying equipment and promoting behavioral change towards sustainable practices.

Under this, the project identified and selected a total of 226 farmer beneficiaries, for the distribution of Boom Sprayers across Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand. All beneficiaries have undergone training sessions on the proper operation of the Boom Sprayer, complemented by practical on-field demonstrations. Under the project, farmers were also taught about the agricultural best practices, benefits of boom sprayers, crop protection strategies, safe and responsible pesticide use, proper disposal of chemical containers, and advantages of farm machinery.

Tangible Benefits and Expansion

The efforts of Project Sahyog have yielded tangible benefits for farmers in Punjab and Haryana, including reduced health risks and savings in time and resources. Roots Foundation and Pi Industries, with their six years of active involvement in the region, have played a pivotal role in driving this positive change. The impact of the project has now extended to Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh, fostering collaboration between service providers and farmers and promoting sustainable agriculture practices.

By promoting responsible agrochemical use and fostering entrepreneurship among farmers, this collaborative initiative is laying the foundation for a more sustainable and resilient agricultural future.