When John Deere isn’t rolling out new product updates and agricultural equipment, it’s focusing its attention on ways it can help others around the globe. John Deere India is one example of a company initiative that is dedicated to improving the quality of life for people in a community abroad. Between John Deere and the Centre for Advanced Research and Development (CARD), the Samruddhi Project has taken off, and it continues to have a significant impact on locals for the greater good.

Let’s take a closer look at this demonstration of John Deere citizenship.

Empowering through Education

The Samruddhi Project in India is John Deere’s project dedicated to solving hunger through education. For more than five years, the company has been working with CARD to provide solutions for world hunger by teaching local farmers how to farm with alternative methods.  

As of right now, the initiative is taking place in the cities of Dewas, Sirhind, Nagpur, and Pune. Sudam Koniba Yadav, a member of the Sanaswadi Farmers Club, is one of the individuals who has learned about new methods of growing through the program. He has integrated new agronomic methods and experimentation to growing tomatoes, chilis, brinjal, cauliflower, and bitter gourd. Yadav has also started applying micro-nutrients and utilizing drip irrigation, mulching, and bio-fertilizers.

In the end, he has been able to produce significantly larger yields while saving water. His income has increased three-fold on just a half-acre plot of land. Best of all, Yadav has been able to provide schooling for his children.

“Trust is very, very important because the farmer has to risk his livelihood by implementing some of the new processes or programs,” said Satish Nadiger, director, Ag & Turf Division Finance (Asia). “So, unless they have the trust in these improvements by the way they cultivate, they wouldn’t risk that income. Plus that trust helps bring that sustainability to the program.”

Spreading the Wealth

Approximately 14,000 locals have benefited from community development activities driven by CARD and John Deere. In addition, almost 23,000 students have been exposed to new education programs and agronomic initiatives that will support sustainable outcomes in the future.

“What does success look like?” asks Arun Pandey, John Deere’s Citizenship Program Director for Asia. “When a community starts sustaining the benefit of interventions even without the support of John Deere and CARD. That’s when we’ll know it has made a difference.”

If you have any questions about John Deere agricultural equipment, you can contact your local John Deere dealer.

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