Global agribusiness giant ADM and German chemical giant Bayer have extended their programme supporting Indian farmers in Maharashtra state by three years.
Launched in 2022 with the aim of strengthening sustainable soyabean farming practices in Maharashtra, the initiative had reached 25,000 farmers by May 2025, the company said.
The extended programme would quadruple the number of supported farmers to 100,000, increase the area covered from 35,000ha to 200,000ha and cover seven districts in Maharashtra, with Nanded, Parbhani, Hingoli and Solapur added to its original footprint of Latur, Dharashiv (formerly Osmanabad), and Beed, ADM said on 5 January.
“Our extended partnership with Bayer reflects a long-term vision to safeguard food systems and foster a resilient future,” said Amrendra Mishra, ADM’s managing director of Ag Services & Oilseeds and country manager of India.
“By leveraging ADM’s market linkages and global resources, we aim to equip 100,000 farmers with the tools to strengthen economic resilience, enhance sustainable livelihoods, and lead the future of Indian agriculture through practices that advance environmental and supply chain sustainability.”
Via the the ProTerra Foundation, the project focus has been on five areas of supply chain sustainability: customised production management; tailored spray programmes that emphasise pre-harvest intervals and biodiversity protection; professional implementation guidance; detailed crop management documentation; and collaborative post-harvest pest management expertise.
In addition, Bayer led in-person and digital training programmes to strengthen farmer’s capacity in Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), biodiversity and sustainability practices. Through a combination of model demonstration plots and large-scale outreach, the company has also engaged thousands of growers, including connecting with over 58,000 farmers through audio bridge calls on Integrated Pest Management (IPM)-based crop management.
Across project districts, Bayer has also delivered hundreds of pre-sowing and crop-management camps, while a carefully chosen cohort of farmers underwent rigorous BayGAP training to adopt globally benchmarked sustainable farming practices.
In parallel, ADM’s cluster agronomist team received regular training on crop cultivation practices, including nutrient and pesticide management schedules, as well as Good Agricultural Practices (GAP).
ADM’s network in India includes origination, oilseed processing, commodities trading, and animal and human nutrition.
