CSR initiatives in agriculture during Covid
- Admin
- Dec 5, 2021
- 2 min read
Updated: Jan 1, 2022
India is an agricultural powerhouse with this sector contributing to 16% of the Gross Domestic Product of the country. About 60.4%(according to the World Bank Report 2018) of the land in India is cultivatable in contrast to the world’s average of 11% . It comprises of all the key 15 climates of the world thus making it a multi-crop country in contrast to several major economies of the world. Agricultural sector has been a major source of employment and livelihood for more than 50% of the Indian population. Indian agricultural powerhouse is multifaceted with horticulture and animal husbandry contributing to over 60% of India’s agricultural GDP. Despite of all the richness in the agriculture, the COVID 19 had devastating impact on this sector.
HINDRANCES DURING COVID 19 :
The COVID 19 had a lot of hindrances in the agricultural sector some of which were direct in the form of spreading of the virus in nature and others were indirect in the form of lockdowns . Some of these hindrances were :
1. The agricultural cycle in the country was disturbed, causing a delay in the harvesting of Rabi crops and preparation of Kharif crops.
2. Some of the products such as meat, fish, poultry and dairy have experienced a fall in their demand during the pandemic causing a reduction in their prices.
3. Various problems such as shortage of labour and logistics hindrances have caused disruptions in the agricultural supply chains which have negatively affected all the agricultural activities.
4. The expenditure on agricultural inputs has increased due to additional cost of logistics amid the restrictions along with reverse migration, in addition to decrease in income of the farmer due to loss in subsistence activities and reduction in remittances from family members.
CSR INITIATIVES DURING COVID 19 :
PowerGrid :
During the Covid 19 pandemic, PowerGrid has ensured uninterrupted supply of electricity in the country. In addition to its contribution of 200 Cr to the PM CARES fund (130 crore in 2019-20 and 70 crore in 2020-21), it has also helped in distribution and rationing of free meals and provided financial assistance to different government medical institutions for procurement of medical instruments, PPE kits, sanitizers, masks and gloves, etc.
Ultratech Cement :
In the middle of COVID 19 pandemic, the Ultra Tech cement has initiated a water management program with the help of ICRISAT. This project was initiated with in partnership with Government of Andhra Pradesh in the district Tadipatri, Anantapur for the duration from 2019 to2024. The aim of the project is to agricultural productivity and increase thee availability of water resources in order to boost the livelihoods of the poor in the watersheds on a sustainable basis in COVID times.
HDFC Bank :
The project Assistance to Farmers was initiated by HDFC bank with an estimated amount of 92.78 Cr carried out across India to facilitate water and soil conservation, water management and maintenance of harvesting structures for facilitating groundwater and surface water availability in partnership with Village and Rural development committees. The existing ponds, dams and wells were rejuvenated. These have not only befitted the agricultural produce but have increased the availability of water for domestic use as well increase the groundwater.
KEYWORDS : CSR, Shining Tomorrow Foundation, COVID 19, Agriculture, Economy, Rural, Dost Kisan, Hindrances during COVID 19, Farming, Water Conservation
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