Wanaparthy (Telangana): Continuing its efforts to empower farmers, leading agri business company Syngenta India has announced an investment of Rs 2.89 crore to build an ultra-modern wayside market in Wanaparthy. This shall be Syngenta’s biggest investments so far under its flagship CSR program I-CLEAN (Inculcating Cleanliness, Learning, Education, Awareness and New Habits). Telangana Agriculture and Co-operation Minister Shri Niranjan Reddy Garu laid the foundation stone of the new facility on Monday.

There are 102 platforms which should accommodate more than 150 vendors in the market. This will benefit more than 25 villages and Wanaparthy town. Syngenta India officials also handed over 50 hospital beds to the District Hospital in Wanaparthy.

Lauding Syngenta India’s dedication to help farmers, Shri Reddy said that farmers not only in and around Wanaparthy but across Telangana need a clean, secure and central place where they can do business with ease. “This ultra-modern rural market will give a big boost to farmers’ incomes and their ease of life. I thank Syngenta India for building its biggest rural market in our state,” added Reddy. He also praised Syngenta India for contributing 50 beds to Wanaparthy District Hospital.

It is worth mentioning that during the Covid-19 pandemic, this year alone, Syngenta India has contributed more than 2500 hospital beds to around 45 district hospitals across the country. These hospital beds consist of a semi fowler cot, bed, bed cover, pillow, pillow cover, and I-V stand. Earlier, Syngenta India had contributed to the district hospital of Nizamabad also.

Dr KC Ravi, Chief Sustainability Officer, Syngenta India, said, “We’re delighted to be committing to build this state-of-art wayside market with modern amenities including approach roads from the highway, solar lights, parking facility, safe drinking water, toilets for men and women, lush green frontage, waste disposal and playing area for the children. All this shall greatly enhance the experience of our farmers and will be a big value add in their experiences and incomes.”

Syngenta has so far built 21 markets across India under I-CLEAN. “We have found that the income of farmers who sell their produce at I-CLEAN markets have gone up by 40 per cent as they are able to spend more time in markets, using the facilities of safe drinking water, solar lights and toilets, among others,” added Dr Ravi.

The company will also ensure that farmers are trained in best crop protection practices. “When this market is ready, we will put in the entire marketplace messages depicting the importance of proper crop protection practices. As an agri input company, we take stewardship very seriously and educate our farmers on various aspects of safety on a continuous basis,” Dr Ravi said further.

In September this year, Syngenta India dedicated a state-of-the-art market at Mudhol village under Yelburga Taluk in Koppal district, Karnataka. Built under the I-CLEAN initiative and in collaboration with the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) and the Department of Horticulture, Karnataka, the upgraded rural market in Koppal is designed to empower rural economy and strengthen market linkages for farmers. /BI/