Mumbai, 29th October 2021: Burning crop residue after harvesting is detrimental to soil health and has a negative economic impact on farmers and local communities.Additionally, this also contributes to air pollution and aids the challenges posed by climate change.
To overcome this impediment, Ambuja Cement Foundation (ACF), the CSR arm of Ambuja Cements is facilitating farmers to sell theircrop residue to the company. The residue thus collected through Farmer Producer Organizations (FPO) will be used as alternative fuel resources.Under its agro-based livelihood program, ACFformsFPOs toenhance the productivity and profitability of all farmers. This value chain routed via FPOsencourages farmers to gather the crop residue and produce biomass fuel for the company’s plants.
Presently, 10,000farmers have been covered through FPOs thereby facilitating long-term sustainability for farmers and their families.
Neeraj Akhoury, MD & CEO, Ambuja Cements, said, “Community well-being is deeply ingrained in Ambuja Cements’ culture. Our efforts not only aim to enhance the socio-economic status of rural communities, they also aid in promoting sustainable agricultural practices.”
New technologies have been introduced for Juliflora Biomass cutting andchoppingwhich has been specially designed by farmer groups and fabricated at a local level. It has helped the farmers save on costs as itrequires minimal maintenance. By purchasingbiomass fuel for its plant operations, Ambuja Cements generates a multiplier effect by creating resources for farmers and farm labourersto earn from their waste and boost incomes.
PrahladBaoria, a farmer who has benefitted from this effort has witnessed his livelihood being transformed after joining Balaji Farmer Producer Company, a partner of ACF. From being in neck-deep debts with his small land holding unable to sustain his requirements he is presently able to earn about Rs. 30,000 per month from this initiative. Not only has he cleared his debts, he now has 10-15 labourers working with him, his children go to private schools and he is able to meet his wife’s dream of opening a cosmetic shop.As a responsible organization, ACF has been consistently working to not only improve the lives of rural communities but also building a greener and better tomorrow.
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