Small farmers in Kashmir pivot to agribusiness through Parivartan programme

Small farmers in the Kashmir valley are rapidly moving away from traditional farming towards profitable and self-reliant agribusiness. According to a BusinessLine report, this transformation has been made possible by a strong partnership between the corporate sector and the community. For years, farmers in Kashmir had been fighting alone against problems like uncertain weather, heavy post-harvest losses, and fragmented supply chains. This situation forced small farmers to sell their premium products at very low prices, a practice known as distress-selling.

Currently, a systematic Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) intervention is being carried out under HDFC Bank's 'Parivartan' programme. This programme is being implemented in collaboration with ISAP India Foundation and Citizens Foundation. A field visit to Srinagar, Pampore, Pulwama, and Ganderbal revealed that this initiative is strengthening the local economy. Under this programme, Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) are being provided with modern processing infrastructure and integrated branding, so that instead of remaining dependent on the whims of the market, farmers can set the market rules themselves.

Speaking about this initiative, Nusrat Pathan, CSR Head at HDFC Bank, said, "Kashmir is known for its unique agricultural products, and there is a huge opportunity here to increase the value derived from them." She further added, "Through the Parivartan programme, we are working with our partners to improve farming practices, support food processing infrastructure, and strengthen market linkages. Initiatives like 'SAMARKASH' help farmer groups take their products closer to the market through branding and value addition."

Nusrat Pathan emphasised that this support from HDFC Bank is not limited to wealth creation alone. The bank provides comprehensive assistance in matters such as human resources, institutional aggregation, capacity building, knowledge sharing, and asset management. The main objective of these projects is to take them to a stage where farmers are no longer dependent on anyone else. She added, "Sustainability is our USP."

At the heart of this transformation is the shift in farmer groups supported by the corporate sector. Currently, the FPOs supported in this region are collectively generating revenue of up to ₹5.2 crore. Some high-performing individual groups, such as the Kirmaniya Fruit Fed Farmer Producer Company (FPC), have succeeded in increasing their revenue to ₹1.4 crore.

Sharing his experience, Bashir Ahmed Gani, President of Kirmaniya Fruit Fed FPC, said, "Earlier, we used to sell raw products immediately after harvest and accepted whatever price was offered to us." He further stated that now, due to dedicated processing units, drying facilities, and integrated branding, their members can process, pack, and sell products on their own terms.

Under this programme, a dedicated agricultural brand named 'SAMARKASH' has been established, which brings a major improvement in value addition. This brand provides institutional support for professional branding, standard packaging, and direct market linkages. This allows farmer groups to eliminate exploitative middlemen and reach large consumer markets directly. In this way, small farmers in Kashmir are now not just farming, but adopting a business approach, which has improved their economic status and enabled them to compete better in the market.

This entire initiative has brought a new change in the agricultural sector of Kashmir, where farmers have been empowered through a combination of technology, branding, and institutional support. This model can also serve as an inspiration for other areas where small farmers are still trapped in the clutches of middlemen. With this strategic assistance provided by HDFC Bank and its partners, farmers are now increasing the value of their products with confidence and moving towards long-term economic independence.