A Win for Economic Empowerment and Climate Resilience in India
A corporate partnership training farmers in Madhya Pradesh, India, on climate-smart agricultural techniques was just named “Best Economic Empowerment Program”.
Around the world, smallholder farmers are among those most vulnerable to the effects of climate change. However, these farmers often struggle to implement environmentally friendly practices — either because they are too costly, or because they don’t have access to the necessary materials, services, and information.
On November 14, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation Corporate Citizenship Center recognized Kellogg Company’s partnership with TechnoServe to help these farmers improve their climate resilience and their incomes. The 2019 Citizens Awards named the partnership, which assists more than 12,000 farmers in India, the year’s Best Economic Empowerment Program.
Feeding the world starts with ensuring that farming families have good, sustainable livelihoods — especially as smallholder farmers face increasing pressures from climate change.
— TechnoServe CEO William Warshauer
In the state of Madhya Pradesh, India, Kellogg and TechnoServe are working with farmers in corn, wheat, soy, and legume-growing regions. Through the program, farmers learn profitable, environmentally friendly, and easily accessible techniques to improve yields, crop quality, and resilience to climate threats.
As a result, participating farmers have seen a 20% increase in income. Families have also learned how to develop personal kitchen gardens, which improve nutrition and reduce food expenditures. The average household with a garden now consumes vegetables daily, while their spending on vegetables has decreased by nearly 75%.
“This work contributes to our Kellogg’s Better Days commitment to create better days for three billion people worldwide by the end of 2030,” says Amy Senter, Kellogg Company Chief Sustainability Officer. “We are committed to supporting farmers and TechnoServe has been a tremendous partner in this work. We are honored to be recognized for the meaningful impact we are making on families and communities through our collaboration.”
This year marks the 20th anniversary of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation Corporate Citizenship Center’s awards program, which recognizes the most innovative and impactful corporate citizenship initiatives raising the bar on social responsibility and sustainability. “Feeding the world starts with ensuring that farming families have good, sustainable livelihoods — especially as smallholder farmers face increasing pressures from climate change,” says TechnoServe CEO William Warshauer. “We are proud to partner with Kellogg on this high-impact initiative, and we are honored that it has been recognized in this way by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation.”
Learn more about TechnoServe’s work with Kellogg.
