Several corporate biggies are eyeing the rural areas of Punjab region in order to spread awareness about modern farming practices.
This includes deploying latest technological equipments and upgrading the existing agricultural process. Working on the same lines, Bayer crop science Ltd is launching new products in the market to protect the crop from various insects and diseases. Ajit Chahal, associate GM (North), Bayer crop science told FE, ?We are launching products which are environment friendly. Along with selling the products, we guide the farmers to sow hybrid seeds, undertake proper seed treatment and spray limited chemicals. For this, we have recruited about 250 permanent and over 1,000 people on temporary basis in our technical field force. We have also set up three exclusive Bayer service centers in Haryana to tackle the problems the farmers are facing.?
The company has also developed a product for getting rid of mealy bug, the pest which has majorly damaged the cotton crop this year. Chahal further added, ?We have a product called ?Admire? which is an effective pesticide and offers a long-term control. We have given demos to the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), agricultural department and Krishi Vikas Kendra. So far about five metric tons of this product has been used to treat 50,000 acres of land in Punjab.?
Automotive part maker Bosch group has designed products with German technology to make the tractors and combines more efficient. As per the data available, about 50% product material is spurious which leads to engine failure. Pritpal Singh Virdi, business manager, Bosch shared, ?We are spreading awareness amongst the farmers through rural campaigns and workshops. A company jeep visits various villages and gives handy tips to the farmers about how to take care of the engine and how to identify spurious products. Now, about 30% of the farmers have started buying original products after examining them.?
Even Maruti Suzuki is exploring the interiors by setting up more centers there. About 35% of its total sales generate from the rural segment.
?We are setting up extension counters in small towns of Punjab. About 11 counters have been set up and we plan to establish about 25 counters this year ? said Jyoti Malhotra, regional manager, Maruti Suzuki.
