Introducing ITC Limited

ITC Limited is an Indian company headquartered in Kolkata, West Bengal. Active in a variety of different segments, ITC runs one of India’s largest agri-businesses. The company works together with smallholders to implement sustainable practices and source a large variety of products, including grains, oilseeds, pulses, spices, processed fruit, coffee, and shrimp.  

Overcoming challenges with GLOBALG.A.P. and ITC  

Within its own Sustainable Agriculture Practices Programme, ITC assists smallholders in coping with local challenges. For example, most Indian farmers are operating on small plots and are highly dependent on a good monsoon season for irrigation. Inefficient farming methods and high cultivation costs also contribute to difficult farming conditions.  
 
To help tackle these issues, the ITC Sustainable Agriculture Practices Programme delivers information and practical training to local smallholders based on GLOBALG.A.P. standards. With help and funding, Indian smallholders are able to adopt GLOBALG.A.P. standards, which has helped chili farmers produce quality crops, increase productivity, and adapt to climate change sustainably.

This is just the beginning!

The partnership between GLOBALG.A.P. and ITC began two years ago with the objective to improve the livelihoods of red chili farmers in the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Telangana. Farmers taking part in the program have gone beyond the usual approach to growing spices and moved towards adopting a more holistic Integrated Crop Engagement approach. This new approach not only enhances farmer profitability, but also produces food-safe spices that meet the strict US and EU specifications.
Over time, farmers have replaced chemical measures for handling pests with less expensive techniques using biological, physical, cultural, and mechanical methods. This has helped them improve the quality of their products and meet international standards.

Today, there are 225 smallholder farms receiving support from the project and producing nearly 4,000 metric tons of chili in GLOBALG.A.P. certified production processes. “This year I have harvested 200kg more chili per acre with better quality than other farmers in my region,” says Vijender Janardhan Rao from Rangapur village, Telangana State, India. He adds: “Thanks to ITC’s support and G.A.P. guidelines I made $400 extra per acre.”  
Thirupathi Rao, another farmer in the village, also cherishes the fact that farmers are now adopting more sustainable practices in chili production, ensuring that their produce meets global standards for quality and integrity.  

A win-win situation  

This collaboration has resulted in a win-win outcome for all stakeholders: safe agricultural products are produced according to international standards, the local environment is better safeguarded, and the increase in farmer income has helped with social development in the region.  

Looking to get GLOBALG.A.P. certification for your production process? Find the 5 steps to certification here.  

Are you interested in partnering with GLOBALG.A.P. for a capacity-building project? Click here to find out how.  

ITC  GLOBALG.A.P. Number - 4063061300669

ITC website