HDFC Bank Parivartan Supports Farmer Collectives and Agricultural Livelihoods in Kashmir
Srinagar, November 4, 2026: HDFC Bank, through its CSR programme Parivartan, is working to strengthen agricultural livelihoods in Kashmir by supporting improved farming practices, processing infrastructure and market access for farmers. The initiatives are being implemented in partnership with ISAP India Foundation and Citizens Foundation.
Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) supported under the programme collectively generate revenues of up to ₹5.2 crore, with one FPO reporting revenue of ₹1.4 crore. The initiative has also established SAMARKASH, a brand through which participating FPOs market processed agricultural products with support for branding, packaging and market linkages.
The programme addresses challenges faced by farmers in the region, including low productivity, climate variability, post-harvest losses and limited access to organised markets. Its interventions cover different stages of the agricultural value chain, from cultivation and processing to marketing.
Support includes solar water pumps, drip irrigation, mulching, particularly for saffron cultivation, and polyhouse farming. The programme has also supported processing facilities for apples, walnuts, saffron, Kashmiri red chilli, milk and traditional bakery products. These facilities are equipped with solar dryers, cold storage and other machinery to improve post-harvest handling, preservation and value addition.
Nusrat Pathan, Head – CSR, HDFC Bank, said, “Kashmir is known for its distinctive agricultural produce, and there is an opportunity to strengthen the value farmers derive from it. Through Parivartan, we are working with our partners to improve farming practices, support food processing infrastructure and strengthen market linkages. Initiatives such as SAMARKASH help farmer collectives take their produce closer to the market through branding and value addition. We remain committed to supporting locally relevant solutions that strengthen rural enterprises and create sustainable livelihood opportunities across the region.”
The programme's interventions are focused on specific agricultural activities across Kashmir.
In Pampore, saffron farmers are receiving support through improved agricultural practices, including solar water pumps and solar dryers, along with FPO development and market linkages. The interventions aim to strengthen cultivation and improve opportunities for farmers associated with the region's saffron production.
For apple and walnut growers, the programme has supported processing infrastructure, including solar dryers and machinery for grading and sorting. These facilities enable farmers to process and preserve produce, develop market-ready products and explore opportunities beyond the sale of raw agricultural produce.
In Uri, farmers growing Kashmiri red chilli are receiving support through polyhouse farming, drip irrigation and solar drying facilities. The interventions are intended to improve cultivation practices and post-harvest handling, particularly in border communities.
Through SAMARKASH, the programme is also helping FPOs improve product branding, packaging and marketing capabilities to strengthen the market readiness of locally processed agricultural products.
Mr. Bashir Ahmad Ganie, FPC President, Kirmaniya Fruit Fed FPC, said, “Earlier, we sold our produce raw, soon after the harvest, and took whatever price we were offered. With the processing unit, the drying facilities and the SAMARKASH brand, our members now have a way to process, pack and sell on their own terms. Our young people are beginning to see a future in farming here again.”
Beyond agriculture, Parivartan also supports alternative livelihood opportunities, including skill development initiatives for women. In FY 2025–26, HDFC Bank extended its CSR coverage to 498 border villages across India, in line with national priorities under the Border Area Development Programme and the Vibrant Villages Programme.
HDFC Bank stated that Parivartan has impacted more than 10.77 crore people across all 28 states and eight Union Territories. The Bank spent ₹1,316.18 crore on CSR initiatives in FY 2025–26, taking its cumulative CSR investment under Parivartan to approximately ₹7,492 crore since inception.
The programme works across six focus areas: rural development, education, skill training and livelihood enhancement, healthcare and hygiene, financial literacy and inclusion, and natural resource management. Its flagship Holistic Rural Development Programme (HRDP) covers more than 11,000 villages.
As part of its broader rural development agenda, Parivartan aims to improve the annual incomes of five lakh low-income farmers through sustainable agricultural practices, collectivisation and market linkages. Its Crop Residue Management initiative, implemented with CII Foundation, has helped save more than 3.26 lakh acres of farmland from stubble burning across Punjab and Haryana, reaching 86,000 farmers in over 380 villages. Farm machinery has been made available through more than 140 farmer cooperatives and FPOs.
Through its work with implementation partners and local communities, HDFC Bank Parivartan aims to strengthen farmer collectives, expand market access and support sustainable agricultural livelihoods in Jammu and Kashmir.
