India ACCESS Agri-Business Resource Centers

Situation

Rural farmers in India do not have adequate access to inputs and markets. In addition, these farmers, many of whom are women, are not provided with timely agronomic advice. Currently, Pioneer provides seed to farmers through retail outlets, but is challenged to provide value added services for the millions of grain farmers in India.

Solution

Pioneer worked with CARE India to develop an initial pilot with their network of self-help groups under their CASHE project. This pilot has now evolved into a model for product and sales support, utilizing the new successor to CASHE, ACCESS. Through this India based, incomes focused, non-profit organization, Pioneer works with producer groups to:

Establish rural enterprises that will allow farmers to improve access to inputs
Improve access to farm services such as credit, mechanization, information
Experience best practice and product demonstrations
Increase grain yields and quality
Streamline access to improved grain markets and value adding

Impact

Through this project farmers are able to increase their yields and profitability. In addition, this project also increases rural agri-business and employment. Success in this project positions Pioneer and ACCESS well to replicate this project throughout India.