Godrej Agrovet Limited on Monday announced a three-year partnership with the Maharashtra State Rural Livelihoods Mission (MSRLM-UMED) to empower more than 5,000 women farmers across nine major cotton-growing districts of Maharashtra. The collaboration comes in line with the United Nations’ declaration of 2026 as the International Year of the Woman Farmer, focusing on strengthening the role of women in agriculture and improving rural livelihoods.
Under a Memorandum of Understanding signed on January 19, Godrej Agrovet Limited will work closely with Maharashtra State Rural Livelihoods Mission to promote Good Agricultural Practices and Integrated Pest Management among women farmers. In the first year, the programme will cover Nagpur, Amravati, Yavatmal, Washim, Parbhani, Jalgaon, Beed, Akola and Nanded, reaching over 5,000 farmers across more than 50,000 acres and engaging 100 self-help groups in each district. The initiative includes training workshops, farmer field schools, demonstration plots and distribution of safety kits. While Godrej Agrovet will fund and implement the programme, MSRLM-UMED will support mobilisation through its SHG and Krishi Sakhi networks. Speaking on the occasion, MSRLM-UMED CEO Nilesh Sagar said the partnership would help women farmers adopt scientific crop management practices and improve their socio-economic conditions. Godrej Agrovet CEO and MD Sunil Kataria said empowering women farmers is key to achieving sustainable and inclusive growth in Indian agriculture.
Agricultural trade circles in Guwahati say initiatives that improve cotton productivity and quality in major producing states like Maharashtra can have a positive ripple effect across eastern and northeastern markets. Better yields and consistent quality are expected to support smoother supply chains and more stable pricing, benefiting traders and downstream textile-linked businesses in hubs such as Guwahati over the long term.