Bayer India is a multinational agricultural company focused on crop protection and seed innovation. It works with smallholder farmers worldwide to improve agriculture and food security. The Better Life Farming for Maharashtra Rural Women’s Empowerment Programme (Nav Tejaswini) operates in the Vidarbha and Marathwada regions of Maharashtra, India. Bayer, in partnership with the Maharashtra State Women’s Development Corporation, aims to build self-reliant agricultural entrepreneurship and empower women to adopt modern agricultural technologies. Additionally, by establishing local agricultural support centres, locally termed Krishi Seva Kendras (KSKs), the initiative ensures access to quality agricultural inputs and market-oriented interventions for women farmers. Since 2020, Better Life Farming Alliance (BLFA), led by Bayer in collaboration with Maharashtra State Women’s Development Corporation, has been establishing local women’s federations to run KSKs. As per the BLFA approach, each KSK acts as the touchpoint for inputs and services to cover farmers from five to eight nearby villages. Currently, there are 27 operational KSKs. The programme also uses agritech solutions, such as FarmRise, which offers real-time market insights, weather forecasts and farming advice, allowing farmers to make informed decisions and reduce crop loss. Agronomists associated with the programme use Farmrise to support KSK staff and lead farmers in adopting best practices while maintaining a personal connection through in-person training and support. To encourage more farmers to use the facilities from KSKs and digital tools such as Farmrise, the programme has mobilized female volunteers from SHGs. This approach of combining digital tools with human support has led to significant success, impacting over 12,000 farmers across 27 operational centres since 2021. The programme empowers women, enhances agricultural productivity and promotes sustainable farming practices, driving positive change in Maharashtra’s rural communities.CASE STUDY 3 Better Life Farming for Maharashtra Rural Women’s Empowerment Programme (Nav Tejaswini) by Bayer Crop Science in collaboration with Maharashtra State Women’s Development Corporation, India The Maharashtra state government values the significant role women farmers play in shaping the state’s agriculture and economy. As part of its vision to achieve a $1 trillion economy, the state government is committed to enhancing the capacity of women farmers and improving their access to advanced digital technologies. Currently, Maharashtra State Women’s Development Corporation is working with 1.8 million women across Maharashtra, including 1 million smallholder women farmers, organized into SHGs at the village level and federations at the district level. Maharashtra State Women’s Development Corporation’s vision is to collaborate with private sector organizations to introduce agritech solutions to women farmers to improve their access to finance, market and resources. Maya Patole, Managing Director, Maharashtra State Women’s Development Corporation, Government of Maharashtra Agritech for Women Farmers: A Business Case for Inclusive Growth 22

Agritech for Women Farmers 2024