Jind (Haryana), Oct 26, 2024: As part of its commitment to driving sustainable growth for communities, PNB MetLife, in partnership with the Foundation for Development Initiative (FDI), has launched an innovative Crop Residue Management (CRM) program in Jind district, Haryana. This initiative addresses the one of India's most pressing environmental issues of stubble burning, while empowering local farmers with eco-friendly alternatives to stubble burning that create long-term economic value.
This partnership builds on PNB MetLife’s mission to support big dreams; in this instance, by fostering environmental responsibility and economic empowerment. The project aims to benefit 2,000 farmers, cover 3,500 acres of farmland, and prevent the burning of stubble worth Rs 1 crore, while significantly reducing air pollution, by preventing more than 5,000 tonnes of stubble from burning and averting the release of 8 million kilograms of greenhouse gases (GHGs). The initiative seeks to raise environmental awareness, promote greener farming practices, and enable rural women by converting crop residue into marketable products.
Key highlights of the initiative include 80 awareness sessions, 200 focus group discussions (FGDs), and 2,000 to 4,000 personalized interactions with farmers to promote sustainable practices; establishment of small manufacturing units for 30-50 rural women to create market-ready products from crop residue, supported by market linkages for profitability; implement sustainable solutions in 20 villages until March 2025, with a plan to expand the coverage to more regions in the future; deployment of a mobile application to streamline stubble collection and disposal, further enhancing project efficiency.
Sameer Bansal, Managing Director & CEO of PNB MetLife, said, “At PNB MetLife, we are driven by the belief that our purpose: Milkar Life Aage Badhaein means securing the future by investing in the dreams and aspirations of the communities we serve.”
“Our partnership with FDI marks a significant step towards this goal, by addressing the issue of stubble burning, which is not only harmful to our communities, but wasteful. The CRM program offers farmers practical and profitable alternatives that support both environmental preservation and economic upliftment. We are also focused on empowering Women SHGs to transform agricultural waste into income-generating products, fostering entrepreneurship and creating sustainable livelihoods for rural women, which in turn drives economic independence and community-level progress. I We hope to drive lasting change in Haryana and pave the way for similar initiatives across the country,” he said.
Vijay Singh, CEO of FDI, added, “Our focus is on empowering farmers with the knowledge and tools they need to transition to environmentally friendly practices. This project not only helps reduce environmental damage but also creates economic opportunities, particularly for women farmers, who will be trained to turn waste into valuable products. Together with PNB MetLife, we are setting the foundation for a sustainable, replicable model that benefits both people and the planet.”
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