The Walmart Foundation has announced a noble initiative which would involve providing aid to at least one million smallholder farmers in India, out of which no less than 50% must be women – all within the next five years.The foundation has announced two grants – a mammoth $3 million to TechnoServe, an international nonprofit organisation, and $533,876 to the NGO Trickle Up. These grants are set to make a huge difference in the lives of numerous people. TechnoServe will receive funds which will be utilized to support 30K farmers and 24 FPOs in Maharashtra & Andhra Pradesh, of which at least half are likely to be women. With the grant, Trickle Up is planning to reach out to 1,000 female smallholder farmers in Odisha and connect them with two Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs).
Enhancing market access for smallholder farmers in India is the primary objective of Walmart Foundation’s latest commitment. The foundation aims to improve farm inputs, provide market access, find new buyers and provide technology support, such as cashless transactions, to smallholder farmers in India, ultimately making them self-sustaining.
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At the recent conference in Delhi, Kathleen McLaughlin, President of the Walmart Foundation, outlined how the organization is actively striving to identify solutions that benefit all parties involved. They are continuing to invest in this goal with their latest commitment. According to Walmart Inc’s Executive Vice President and Chief Sustainability Officer, McLaughlin, the foundation had contacted 800,000 smallholder farmers in nine Indian states – Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Odisha, Jharkhand West Bengal Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh during their initial stage.
The Walmart Foundation, led by Kathleen McLaughlin, is all set to support an additional one million small farmers in India. According to her, they will be investing until 2028 to ensure these farmers have access to markets and other areas of growth. The exact amount required for the second phase is yet to be determined. The foundation allocated $39 million in the early stages of the project, aiming to benefit 800,000 smallholder farmers. Additionally, Rajneesh Kumar of Flipkart’s Senior Vice President and Chief Corporate Affairs states that Flipkart -owned by Walmart- is dedicated to develop a sound and inclusive agribusiness supply chain.
In conclusion, Walmart Foundation’s latest commitment aims to empower smallholder farmers in India by expanding their market access and providing them with the necessary support to become self-sustaining. By supporting these farmers, Walmart Foundation is creating a sustainable ecosystem that will benefit local stakeholders and provide inclusive growth opportunities.
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