Farmers in India face numerous challenges such as unpredictable weather patterns, lack of modern technology and machinery, insufficient access to credit and loans, low market prices, and soil degradation. Other challenges include the use of outdated farming methods, water scarcity, and a shortage of skilled labor. These factors contribute to the overall struggle for farmers to maintain a sustainable livelihood.
In an exclusive interview with The CSRUniverse, Mr. Jagjeet Singh Kandal, Country Director, India – IDH, talks about how enhancing sustainability in agriculture is crucial through the implementation of practical measures and collaborative approaches. With his extensive knowledge and experience in the field, he shares valuable insights on how the company is creating a more sustainable and resilient agricultural system. He also talks about emphasizing on regenerative and sustainable agriculture practices, improving smallholder farmer livelihoods and worker livelihoods in the country.
Scroll down for detailed insights.
Q&A
Q. Please tell us about IDH– what are the problems that it is working to solve and what kind of strategies does it follow?
A. IDH focuses on enhancing sustainability in agriculture through practical measures and collaborative approaches. This includes improving household incomes for smallholder farmers, creating better working conditions, addressing environmental concerns like climate change and carbon emissions, and advocating for gender equality in supply chains. We work with various stakeholders such as market players, governments, and NGOs, to drive positive changes in these areas. Over 15 years, the organization has successfully formed global coalitions to promote sustainable trade, with a network of about 400 experts embedded in key sectors and landscapes worldwide.
Q. Could you tell us a little more about your work in India? What are your most significant initiatives here and what has the impact been like so far?
A. IDH has been operating in India since 2009, focusing on promoting sustainable practices in several commodities such as cotton and tea. We have worked with Better Cotton to promote sustainable cotton production and workedon crops like tea, coffee, spices, and more. We have engaged with over 10 million farmers nationwide, emphasizing regenerative and sustainable agriculture practices, improving smallholder farmer livelihoods and worker livelihoods
Regionally, the focus extends to soil conditions, water usage, and addressing the impact of climate change. Initiatives tackle soil depletion, reduction of fertilizer usage, and promoting sustainable agriculture year-round. In the agri-commodities sector, IDH collaborates with partners to address responsible agrochemical use, smallholder inclusion, gender equality, and sustainable practices, fostering public-private partnerships.
On the manufacturing side, the organization advances worker safety, and sustainability in the apparel sector, and advocates for transparency and ethical practices, contributing to broader sustainability challenges.
Q. You recently organized AgriClimate Nexus: Food, Fibre, and Regeneration for Sustainable Growth in India. What were the key outcomes of the deliberations at this event?
A. The event was hosted to promote regenerative agriculture in India through collaboration, innovation, and the creationof an enabling environment. It provided a platform for participants from farming communities, the private sector, civil society, and government to collaborate, share insights, and drive meaningful progress toward a sustainable and regenerative agricultural future that would protect the environment and improve the livelihoods of millions of small farming communities involved in the production of food and fiber crops in India.
Discussions reiterated the importance of regenerative agriculture to address issues of climate change by sequestering carbon in the soil, preventing soil degradation & water scarcity, and the loss of biodiversity, thereby enhancing food security, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and restoring ecosystems.
It enabled participants to share the barriers faced and hear about solutions, including the adoption of the Better Cotton Principles and Criteria as well as the importance of promoting a ‘Landscape’ approach that supports change within a geographic jurisdiction in collaboration with all the stakeholders in that region. Participants agreed to continue sharing their learning, tools and approaches even after the event to keep the conversation going and accelerate the transition to regenerative agriculture.
Q. What are the most pressing challenges for cotton farmers in India and how is IDH helping in addressing them? How will Better Cotton Initiative help you in your pursuits?
A. Challenges for cotton farmers in India include issues like water usage, pesticide use, and market access. Regenerative agriculture offers a sustainable solution to address the pressing challenges faced by Indian agriculture. Landscape approaches in sustainable agriculture take a holistic view, considering the year-round realities of farmer households beyond specific crops like cotton. Recognizing that regenerative agriculture thrives in healthy landscapes, our focus includes Natural Resource Management (NRM) and governance to ensure responsible practices. This approach aims to create resilient and thriving agricultural ecosystems for sustainable farming. IDH aims to accelerate the adoption of regenerative practices, create an enabling environment, and contribute to the revitalization of India’s agriculture sector.
With Better Cotton, we will continue to engage in multi-stakeholder dialogue on regenerative agriculture, drawing participation from stakeholders including government entities, civil society organizations, academia, and the financial sector. A common framework and enabling environment will help in advancing discussions on regenerative agriculture across policy, finance, and industry.
Q. As per your website, IDH operates in 12 sectors- apparel, cocoa, materials, coffee, tea, etc. Besides cotton (materials), which are the other sectors in India that you are working in? Are there any particular achievements that you would like to share with us?
A. IDH, in collaboration with partners, is working across sectors including Cotton, Tea, Spices, Palm oil, coffee, mint, soya, wheat, and apparel, in India. In these sectors, we are working on themes including responsible agrochemical use, smallholder inclusion, livelihoods, economic empowerment, water use optimization, social impact, sustainable manufacturing, gender empowerment,and worker safety.
We take pride in our achievements across these sectors, working in collaboration with stakeholders and partners to drive positive change. Some notable accomplishments include:
Better environment
- Collaborated with partners to facilitate the transition of farmers to climate-resilient practices.
- Contributed to the development of regenerative, low-carbon, and deforestation-free landscapes through Production, Protection, and Inclusion (PPI) compacts.
- Promoted chemical waste reduction and sustainable agricultural practices to minimize the impact of value chains on ecosystems.
Better jobs
- Convened efforts for improved safety conditions in textile and manufacturing factories.
- Generated job opportunities through regional value chain development.
- Advocated against gender-based violence, particularly targeting women workers in agriculture.
Better incomes
- Promoting income growth for smallholder farmers and income diversification opportunities
- Advocated for regional value chains to enhance local farmer income.
- Improved income resilience to climate change through regenerative agriculture practices.
Q. India is a very large, diversified market. How do you tailor your work on the ground and advocacy to ensure desired outcomes are achieved?
A. IDH tailors its strategies to the specific needs of India's diverse markets. This involves region-specific interventions, collaboration with local partners, and adapting approaches to suit the cultural and economic context.
In leveraging our experience from various geographies to inform our approach in India, IDH has recognized the significance of adopting a gradual change strategy. We believe that the more gradual this transition is, the more time it allows for the soils to develop, ultimately minimizing the loss of yield. This approach forms a core part of our ethos, as we understand that successful strategies and solutions from other regions can be adapted to suit the unique context of India.
Q. Are there any learnings or solutions from your work in other geographies that have helped or may be helpful in the Indian context?
A. Guided by the principle of materiality, we identify sector-specific challenges hindering collective progress. In the tea industry, we initiated the Women's Safety Accelerator Fund (WSAF) in 2021 to address gender-based violence. Through workshops on350 tea estates in Assam, West Bengal, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu, we engage with various stakeholders to build safe environments for women and girls.
In regenerative agriculture, our Responsible Agrochemical Use initiative, part of the Regenerative Production and Landscape Collaborative (RPLC), focuses on natural and regenerative farming principles. Founded by the Laudes Foundation, IDH, and WWF India, the RPLC aims to scale a model that restores natural resources and reduces emissions, envisioning thriving smallholder farmers and communities with improved economic stability and livelihoods.Top of Form
Q. Working along with businesses and governments is integral to IDH. How has the response of Indian businesses as well as governments been so far to your immediate initiatives and long-term vision?
A. IDH’s success in India hinges on collaboration with businesses and governments, emphasizing active engagement, adoption of sustainable practices, and alignment with long-term sustainability goals.
In our collaboration with state governments, we emphasize close implementation strategies, converging resources, and expertise. A significant milestone in our governmental partnerships is the recent MOU with the Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India. This MOU signifies a strategic effort to foster stronger public-private collaboration and a comprehensive understanding of landscape approaches for holistic and sustainable development.
The positive responses from both Indian businesses and governments highlight the effectiveness of our collaborative approach. We are confident that these partnerships will continue to drive sustainable development practices, foster resilience, and create lasting impacts on communities across India.
Q. Given your extensive work towards shifting markets in favor of long-term public good, what suggestions/recommendations would you like to give to– a) businesses and b) policymakers, to ensure that India grows not just economically but holistically and sustainably?
A. Businesses in India must prioritize sustainable processes, reducing waste and improving efficiency, investing in responsible sourcing, fair labor practices, and transparent supply chains to promote corporate responsibility, yielding long-term societal benefits.
Active collaboration with government agencies, NGOs, local communities, and industry peers is vital for addressing complex societal and environmental challenges, leading to positive outcomes for the overall public good.
On the policymaking front, advocating regulations supporting clean energy, responsible resource management, and social equity is crucial. Creating a policy environment that encourages businesses to align with long-term public good objectives can drive positive transformations in the business landscape.
A holistic approach to development, beyond economic growth, is necessary. Policymakers should address inequality, and climate change through targeted policies, promoting climate-smart and regenerative agriculture, ensuring living incomes for farmers, and incentivizing sustainable agricultural practices. Fostering a policy environment that encourages fair pricing and builds resilience against climate change will contribute to the long-term sustainability of the agricultural sector.
Q. Looking ahead, how does IDH plan to extend its work and impact in India in the near to medium future?
A. IDH is committed to expanding its impact by taking a multifaceted approach that involves deepening engagement across sectors, forming new partnerships, and scaling up successful initiatives. Our long-term goals are centered around driving systemic change and contributing to India's holistic and sustainable development.
We look forward to increased collaboration and convergence between public-private entities, investors, funders, as well as experts and practitioners. By fostering strong partnerships, we believe we can achieve meaningful and lasting impact.
The concept of "India 4 India" is integral to our approach here, where we work with Indian companies producing for Indian markets. Our focus on leveraging sustainability in everyday farming practices reflects our commitment to making a positive impact on local communities and the environment. There is also a need for a more robust policy around living income and we look forward to working with the governments on Living Income for farmers and Living Wages for workers, which will empower people at the bottom of the pyramid economically by moving forward from Minimum Wages and Poverty line Income standards. This will also be integral to the overall development of the country.
In addition, we recognize the transformative power of technology and data. Therefore, we plan to adopt a technology-driven and data-centric approach to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of our initiatives.
Furthermore, we are committed to incorporating a gender lens into everything we do. Recognizing the importance of gender equality, we aim to create inclusive opportunities for all by addressing gender disparities and promoting the empowerment of women in the communities we serve.
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