‘Project Mango Unnati’ can prove to be an effective game-changer

Project Mango Unnati will promote ‘sustainable agricultural practices’ to enhance mango yields and farmer incomes. It will also demonstrate and facilitate adoption of rejuvenation techniques for old and senile orchards and high-density plantation (HDP) practices

It's an initiative that promises to be a game changer in sustainable mango cultivation in Karnataka, as pilot project that will eventually lead to other places. Coca-Cola India has teamed up with IIT Kharagpur alumnus Aneesh Jain-founded Gram Unnati, an agri value chain enterprise providing advisory services, access to high quality inputs at low cost and market linkages to marginal farmers along with customized production, logistics and end-to-end quality control of agri produce to institutional buyers, to flag off "Project Mango Unnati", focusing on the alphonso and totapuri varieties in Karnataka. The project will also collaborate closely state horticulture agencies such as Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), the Mango Board, the Indian Institute of Horticultural Research (IIHR), and various horticulture departments across districts.

Project Mango Unnati will emphasise on sustainable agriculture through micro irrigation, integrated pest management (IPM), and water conservation techniques like mulching and rainwater harvesting. Through this initiative, farmers will receive training in safe and modern agricultural practices to ensure sustainable farming.

The project will provide crop advisory services, including climate forecasting and crop alert systems, to equip farmers with climate-smart techniques besides enhancing the traceability and sustainability of the crop that will help farmers achieve better returns for their produce. Special training modules have been designed to empower female farmers, promoting gender equality in the agricultural sector.

“Gram Unnati is proud to partner with Coca-Cola India on this transformative project that underscores our commitment to sustainable agriculture and farmer empowerment. By adopting modern practices and focusing on quality, we aim to significantly enhance the livelihoods of mango farmers in Karnataka. Together, we will drive sustainable growth and innovation in mango farming, benefiting farmers and the environment alike, said Aneesh Jain.

Project Mango Unnati will promote ‘sustainable agricultural practices’ to enhance mango yields and farmer incomes by improving the quality, size, and shelf life of the fruit. This would help farmers achieve better market prices. It will also demonstrate and facilitate adoption of rejuvenation techniques for old and senile orchards and high-density plantation (HDP) practices.

“Farmers are the backbone of India’s horticulture system. With Project Mango Unnati, we aim to elevate the livelihoods of these farmers with advanced horticulture solutions, empowering them to significantly increase their incomes. This aligns with the Government of India’s vision for AtmaNirbhar Bharat, making the agrarian economy self-reliant”, said Rajesh Ayapilla, senior director- CSR and Sustainability for Coca-Cola India and Southwest Asia.

Thanks to its unique technology platform to streamline supply demand matching, rich farmer level profiling, agro processor transactional data and 24x7 automated advisory, Gram Unnati was able to achieve 5x growth during the pandemic.

Over the years, Gram Unnati has developed a network of 200,000 farmers across seven states and has strong partnerships with 20+ large institutional buyers including marquee names.