In order to create a digitalized farm-to-customer traceable supply chain, Bayer, a large multinational firm with significant expertise in the life sciences of agriculture and healthcare, and Superplum, an agri-tech start-up, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
With an eye toward expanding to additional regions, the objective of this alliance is to develop and implement a sustainable crop protection strategy for fruit producers in the states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra, and Karnataka. The strategy aims to help 15,000 smallholder farmers in India over the course of three years by offering clear economic incentives to all stakeholders.
As part of the cooperation, Bayer will aid in achieving incremental growth in the farmer’s income, support domestic and export compliance, adopt a production plan to ensure an improvement in the quality and productivity of the produce and more. Bayer will also focus on developing fruit crop protection kits and instructing farmers on how to use them.
Narain, President, South Asia, and Global Head of Smallholder Farming for Bayer, said, “Nutritional security, along with food security, is a critical national and global imperative for the growing population. To this effect, Bayer has launched a global ‘Nutrient Gap Initiative’ that aims to expand access to essential nutrients to 50 million people in underserved communities by 2030. However, we do recognize that to achieve this at scale, a collaborative ecosystem is required, and to further this critical agenda, we are happy to partner with Superplum to create a holistic ecosystem that will help improve fruit growers’ incomes by sustainably enhancing market linkages and ensuring healthy produce for end consumers.”
