Syngenta India has built one of the India’s biggest rural wayside markets in Wanaparthy district, Telangana at a cost of Rs 3.3 crore to support farmers, the company said in a press release. The market will be handed over to the Agriculture Marketing Board for operation and maintenance.

Spread over 51020 sq feet, the market will cater to over 20,000 farmers by providing them safe place to do their business and consumers of over 30 villages and urban areas around this district headquarter, the release added.

Syngenta’s Global CEO J Erik Fyrwald, who is on a three-day visit to India, termed India’s rapid march on the path of progress as inspirational and transformational and said that this has strengthened Syngenta’s resolve to continue to invest itself in the future of the country’s agriculture.

Fyrwald was speaking after dedicating one of the country's biggest rural wayside markets in Wanaparthy district, Telangana, build under Syngenta’s flagship CSR I-CLEAN (Inculcating Cleanliness, Learning, Education, Awareness and New Habits) program.

“Present in the country for 94 years now, India has always been at the core of our focus for its sheer size, diversity and potential - 40% of workforce in the country is employed in agriculture. We have consistently worked on addressing challenges facing Indian agriculture. Accordingly, our R&D has been geared to providing technology to the farming community for enhancing productivity and also reducing input costs for better returns on investment, Fyrwald said adding that Syngenta invests and innovates to transform the way crops are grown and protected to bring about positive, lasting change in agriculture.

“Our ambition is to be the most collaborative and trusted team in agriculture, providing leading seeds and crop protection innovations and digital solutions to enhance the prosperity of farmers, wherever they are,” Fyrwald added.

One of the unique features of this marketplace is that it provides exclusive facilities for women farmers including a day care facility with baby feeding room. This will ensure that women farmers can focus on their business without being concerned about leaving their children at home.

Susheel Kumar, MD & Country Head, Syngenta India said, “The I-CLEAN project has been a remarkable success. We are glad to be able to contribute to the rural prosperity of Telangana, which has one of the highest rates of agriculture growth at 7.8%. With a slew of impressive programs including Rythu Bandhu Scheme, Mission Bhagiratha and Drone Certification, the state has made rapid strides and it ives us joy to become partners in this journey.”

Syngenta’s I-CLEAN program has brought about significant transformation. According to a social-economic impact assessment, the income of farmers who sell their produce at I-CLEAN markets have gone up by 49% as they are able to spend more time in markets; the improved infrastructure sees increased daily footfall. The facilities like safe drinking water, solar lights and toilets have improved the livelihood opportunities of local farming communities by about 40%.

Lauding Syngenta India’s dedication to help and empower farmers, Singhireddy Niranjan Reddy said, “This ultra-modern rural market will give a big boost to farmers’ incomes and their ease of life. I thank Syngenta India for building its biggest rural market for the farmers of Wanaparthy.”

Dr KC Ravi, Chief Sustainability Officer, Syngenta India, said, “This state-of-art wayside market is equipped with modern amenities including approach roads from the highway, 78 raised platforms, sheds, lights, parking facility, safe drinking water, toilet blocks for men and women, water harvesting, lush green frontage, waste disposal, and children playing area. Market stalls, sheds canteen, baby feeding room and a crèche facility make this project unique and will be a safe place specially for women farmers. The facility is expected to impact around 20% women farmers in the area.”

Fyrwald added, “We play a vital role in the food chain to safely feed the world and take care of our planet. We help farmers manage a complex set of challenges from nature and society. Our approach is to ensure that everybody wins: that farmers are prosperous, agriculture becomes more sustainable, and consumers have safe, healthy and nutritious food. The wayside market is a step in that direction, and I am glad that with this we hit a quarter century - this being the 25th I-CLEAN market.”

Syngenta also ensures that farmers are trained in best crop protection practices, health and hygiene practices. “The marketplace has multiple awareness messages highlighting the importance of proper crop protection practices, tips of health and hygiene. As an agri input company, we take stewardship very seriously and educate our farmers on various aspects of safety on a continuous basis,” Dr Ravi added.

Apart from Telangana, 24 such I-CLEAN projects are running in Bihar (18), Uttar Pradesh (02), Karnataka (04) catering to the needs of rural farmers.