HDFC Bank's Parivartan bolsters agricultural livelihoods in Kashmir through market linkages

Srinagar: HDFC Bank, under its CSR programme Parivartan, has undertaken a series of initiatives to support agricultural livelihoods in Kashmir through improved farming practices, food processing infrastructure and stronger market linkages.

The initiatives are beginning to yield results, with increased agricultural produce and improved incomes for scores of farmers. The Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) supported under the initiative collectively generate revenues of up to Rs 5.2 crore, with one FPO generating a revenue of Rs 1.4 crore.

The initiative has also established Samarkash, a brand under which participating FPOs market processed agricultural products, supported by branding, packaging and market linkages.


"Through Parivartan, we are working with our partners to improve farming practices, support food processing infrastructure and strengthen market linkages," HDFC Bank Head of CSR Nusrat Pathan said here.

She said initiatives such as Samarkash help farmer collectives take their produce closer to markets through branding and value addition.

The programme seeks to address challenges faced by farmers, including climate variability, post-harvest losses and limited access to organised markets, while creating sustainable livelihood opportunities in the region.

The bank's interventions include solar water pumps, drip irrigation, mulching, particularly for saffron cultivation, and polyhouse farming to improve agricultural productivity, she said.

It has also supported processing facilities for apples, walnuts, saffron, Kashmiri red chilli, milk and traditional bakery products.

These facilities are equipped with solar dryers, cold storage and other machinery to improve post-harvest handling, preservation and processing of local produce.

One of the beneficiaries, Javed Ahmad, a saffron farmer of Pampore, said, with the training and support facilitated through HDFC Bank Parivartan, "we have learnt to process, grade and package our produce, connect directly with buyers and market it ourselves. Today, we are better equipped to take our saffron to the market on our own terms."

Another beneficiary Tahira Bano, a walnut entrepreneur from Kupwara district, said the support from the bank has helped improve the quality of products, introduce vacuum packaging and direct market linkage leadinng to a significant jump in income.

Earlier, the produce was priced around Rs 400-500 per kg, which is now fetching Rs 800-1,000 for the same quantity, she added.

Besides, the bank has donated medical equipment worth Rs 2.25 crore earlier this year to JLNM Hospital in a bid to improve healthcare facility for poor patients of the valley. PTI