S M Sehgal Foundation announced the extension of its project “Bolstering Farmer Producer Organizations” in Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka. Initiated in 2023 for two years with a philanthropic grant of $1.5 million from Walmart Foundation, this next phase will reach twenty-three Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) with 23,000 members and enhance the capacities of FPOs to promote climate-resilient practices and develop infrastructure that add value to crop production. Read more . . .

Nuh, Haryana:

During a village-based event held in Firozpur Jhirkha, S M Sehgal Foundation handed over the Holistic Rural Development Project (HRDP) carried out in Nuh, Haryana, under the HDFC Bank Parivartan project, to the community members upon its completion on March 13, 2024. HRDP featured themes of natural resource management, education promotion, livelihood and skill development, and healthcare and sanitation. Read more . . .

S M Sehgal Foundation also received appreciation for renovating six anganwadi centers in Nuh, Haryana, which included infrastructure improvements and repairs, BaLA painting, provision of recreational equipment, and construction of toilets facilities. Ms. Sunita, the Women and Child Development project officer, acknowledged the foundation's efforts on March 2, 2024. The renovated anganwadi centers promise to greatly enhance early childhood development.

Mathura, Uttar Pradesh:

On March 6, 2024, S M Sehgal Foundation showcased agricultural initiatives at the National Goat Fair and Agricultural Technology Exhibition 2024 in Mathura. This event, organized by ICAR’s Central Goat Research Institute, featured twenty-five stalls representing over fifteen states, displaying various aspects of agriculture, goat rearing, and products made by women, including pickles and ghee. As part of Parivartan Project’s efforts to empower women and improve their livelihoods, women involved in the mustard extraction unit were invited to demonstrate and sell their products at the fair. 

A convergence meeting held on March 5 facilitated interactions between community members, government officials, and department heads, enabling them to learn about and derive benefits from various programs.

Champawat, Uttarakhand:

Champawat Monal Farmer Producer Company (FPC), formed under the Parivartan Project’s focused development program, has seen numerous successes since its inception. Led by women, the FPC has established itself as a viable business, contributing to the progress of rural Champawat.

A stakeholder workshop on March 11, inaugurated by Mrs. Shivani Pashbola, Civil Judge Champawat, celebrated the achievements of the 2,000 rural women associated with the FPC. Directors of Champawat Monal discussed future strategies at the workshop, which also featured stalls showcasing products made by various women's groups.

(HRDP handover in and appreciation letter, in Nuh, Haryana)

(Stall Exhibition in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh)

(Stakeholders workshop in Champawat, Uttarakhand)

Coexist, by Bollywood actor, Alia Bhatt, is an initiative towards environment and wildlife welfare. On World Water Day 2024, a collaborative post on Instagram was shared; their team has given S M Sehgal Foundation a shoutout for the exceptional work in water management and security. 

See the video here. 

Women’s Day Celebration

International Women's Day was celebrated in Rampur Village of Medak District, Telangana, as part of the "Empowerment and capacity building of women farmers on better agriculture practices" project. The event highlighted the achievements of progressive women farmers from Chegunta block who have embraced new agricultural practices introduced and promoted by S M Sehgal Foundation, such as soil testing, drip irrigation, better crop management, kitchen gardening, and integrated pest management.

Exposure Visit to IIHR

The farmers’ visit to the Indian Institute of Horticultural Research (IIHR) in Bengaluru focused on enhancing the knowledge of ten Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) and Krishi Jyoti project participants from Kolar. Farmers explored value-added techniques for horticultural crops, learned about new technologies to boost productivity, and grasped the significance of border crops. They were also introduced to new seed varieties and high-yield saplings. The farmers gained insights into allied activities to bolster their income such as beekeeping, livestock rearing, and agroforestry. Such exposure equips farmers with innovative approaches for better yields, improved market opportunities, and sustainable livelihoods. A total of 700 farmers benefited from this.

Mr. Salahuddin Saiphy, principal lead of Water Management, S M Sehgal Foundation, undertook a two-week expedition to Sierra Leone, West Africa. The purpose of the trip was to engage in a learning exchange and provide technical expertise on rainwater harvesting and water conservation projects. The initiative was prompted by challenges faced by local farmers, particularly during the summer months when water scarcity becomes a pressing issue.

S M Sehgal Foundation Honored for Rural Development Efforts 

The College of Social Work at Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University in Aurangabad, Maharashtra, has honored S M Sehgal Foundation for its impactful contributions to social work and rural development in the region. Mr. Yogesh Singare, assistant program lead, S M Sehgal Foundation, accepted the award on behalf of the foundation from Pro-Vice Chancellor Dr. Prashant Amrutkar, Principal Dr. PM Shahapurakar, and Dean Dr. Salunke.

Interns from Malla Reddy University Conclude Training

Six students from Malla Reddy University, School of Agricultural Sciences, Hyderabad, Telangana, recently finished a forty-five-day internship at S M Sehgal Foundation. Their internship tenure focused on community development in water conservation projects, local participation and sustainability, water management, agriculture development initiatives, empowerment and capacity building of women farmers, and assessing the project's impact toward improving infrastructure and digital awareness among students in Telangana.

SMSF Let’s Connect Podcast

With capacity building at the core, the Bolstering Farmer Producer Organization project, implemented by S M Sehgal Foundation with support from the Walmart Foundation since 2021, is guided by the belief that strengthening FPOs will enable more opportunities for smallholder farmers in India. Mr. Nishant Gupta from Walmart Foundation, in conversation with Ms. Pooja O. Murada, principal lead of Outreach for Development, S M Sehgal Foundation, shares more about how the project transitioned from its first phase to the next as he speaks in our podcast series.