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Global agribusiness giant Archers Daniels Midland (ADM) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in India with German chemical company Bayer to develop a crop protection system for soybean farmers over a period of three years, ADM announced.
ADM has a large network of farmers in the Indian states of Maharashtra and Karnataka through the Krishi Vikas Kendras (KVK) network, with over 50 crop development and procurement centers.
The centers are staffed by agronomists who provide local farmers with training in best agricultural practices as well as purchasing services.
ADM said its sustainability program provided opportunities for small farmers to receive training in socio-economic and environmental sustainability principles and third-party audits, through the European organization, the ProTerra Foundation.
In the first year of the program, Bayer aims to reach 25,000 soybean farmers in ADM's network in Latur, Osmanabad & Beed districts in Maharashtra and then expand to Karnataka, according to the June 23 statement.
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During the period, Bayer would provide a specialized crop management schedule – prepared in consultation with ADM and agricultural universities – for all crops in the work area, ADM said.
Bayer will also develop a crop protection package for soybean and legume crops, providing non-hazardous crop protection chemicals legally permitted under sustainable crop production principles, according to the statement.
As part of the partnership, ADM said it would provide Bayer with details about partner farmers and area of operations.
“Unlike cereal production, India is far from self-sufficient in edible oil production, importing almost 60% of its domestic edible oil needs.” Increasing the yield of soybean cultivation in a sustainable way is essential to reduce dependence on imports and increase the income of soybean farmers to increase the attractiveness of the crop,” said Simon-Thorsten Wiebusch, Country Divisional Head – Crop Science Division at Bayer for India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
Translated with the free version of the translator – www.DeepL.com/Translator
