LDC to Educate Smallholder Farmers on Sustainable Cotton Farming

Sustainable Cotton Farming – As part of our commitment to empowering smallholder farming communities – in India and around the world – to improve their livelihoods over the long term, Louis Dreyfus Company (LDC) launched “Project Jagruthi” in India in 2022 to train and support local cotton farmers in adopting more sustainable farming practises.

Due to a lack of understanding regarding pink bollworm management, a pink bollworm outbreak that occurred in late 2021 caused major yield losses for many farmers, prompting the creation of Project Jagruthi.

A series of instructional seminars were held as part of the endeavour by LDC to assist cotton farmers in reducing risks like pink bollworm and white fly infestations that are harming cotton crops in India. Specific techniques were exhibited in the workshops together with technical guidance from experts to help reduce yield losses brought on by pest outbreaks, hence enhancing production and profitability. Additionally, field tests of security measures such pheromone traps were carried out.

Sustainable Cotton Farming

To date, LDC has trained over 2,500 farmers through the project in scientific and technological pest control techniques and provided them with over 15,000 pheromone traps. To support effective pink bollworm management, LDC started its second series of workshops in southern and central India in September 2022. The goal was to reach over 7,500 farmers in all of India’s cotton states and distribute 40,000 pheromone traps by the end of the year.

“LDC is committed to working toward a safe and sustainable future, helping to feed and clothe a growing global population sustainably,” stated Sumeet Mittal, LDC’s Head of Cotton for India. Project Jagruthi is a perfect example of what we can accomplish in this area, and we anticipate stepping up this and other similar initiatives.