Female Farmers from West Bengal Receive Award from PepsiCo & USAID for Overcoming Stereotypes

By: WE Staff | Tuesday, 17 May 2022

As part of its 'Women's Land Rights and Economic Empowerment' activity in West Bengal, PepsiCo and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) recognised and awarded six women farmers.

At a special felicitation celebration held at PepsiCo's foods manufacturing factory in Kolkata, Ronald Verdonk, Minister Counselor for Agricultural Affairs, U.S. Embassy, and Melinda Pavek, Consul General, U.S. Consulate General, Kolkata, presented the awards.

The farmers were chosen for their outstanding contributions to agriculture and for challenging stereotypes in their communities. PepsiCo in India, as a 'Agri' firm at heart, has been trying to improve the lives of farmers, particularly women.

PepsiCo and USAID started the Women's Land Rights and Economic Empowerment initiative in 2019 as part of their collaborative farming supply chain to provide training to women in agriculture. The initiative has trained over 1000 women in potato agronomy and sustainable farming techniques as a result of this relationship, with a target of reaching 500 more women farmers in its final year.

Shamima Begum and Anwara Begum of West Bengal's Hooghly district, as well as Sujata Pramanik, Tapasi Pal, Manisha Alu, and Anita Singh of West Bengal's Bankura district, were recognised for breaking gender stereotypes by learning and implementing best practises related to collaborative potato farming, thereby professionalising their work as farmers.

As a result of the programme, the women's livelihoods have improved significantly. However, they have had a positive impact on their communities by encouraging more women farmers to participate in the initiative.

General Consul Melinda Pavek of the United States General Consulate remarked, "Advancing gender equity is fundamental to every individual’s economic security and well-being. The opportunity to meet and learn about the tremendous achievements of women farmers in West Bengal is inspiring. These leaders have truly set a powerful example for others in their communities to emulate. The United States stands committed to supporting programs that are focused on offering economic opportunities and leadership roles to farmers in India.I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate both PepsiCo and USAID for running this program in West Bengal so effectively. Such programs go a long way in removing the structural inequalities and helping women farmers realize their immense potential."

Subrataa Chakraborty, ILRG India Country Director said, "It is a moment of pride for us to see how these women farmers in West Bengal are being acknowledged for their undying spirit and commitment to prove themselves in the largely male-dominated field of agriculture.”

PepsiCo India's Agro Director of Supply Chain, Pratap Bose underlined, "The heartening stories of pride and contentment of these women farmers represent the real success of our program. PepsiCo from day one has focused on bringing these farmers into the company’s supply chain, recognizing them as farmers, and developing them as entrepreneurs. The farming community especially women farmers in West Bengal have shown a deep interest in our sustainable farming program. These women are making concerted efforts to not only participate actively, but also bring positive change in the family’s farming practices by breaking gender stereotypes."

Sujata Pramanik, a farmer from West Bengal's Bankura district said, "I would like to thank both PepsiCo and USAID for this great recognition. I would like to dedicate this award to my family who gave me unrelenting support throughout my training. I am not just a potato farmer now, but also a trainer, and a motivator. I can now efficiently manage both my household work and agricultural work.The training from PepsiCo - USAID was my first formal training on farming, and I have learned about sustainable farming practices and the role of women in farming.I understand gender dynamics and how they deter women's empowerment in my community. My example will encourage more and more women in my village to come forward and be a part of the program."

The PepsiCo-USAID Women's Land Rights and Economic Empowerment activity in West Bengal also sparked a new five-year, USD 20 million partnership between PepsiCo and USAID, which will support PepsiCo's efforts to empower women in agriculture and help build a more sustainable food system in Uttar Pradesh (India), Colombia, Vietnam, and Pakistan.

The project's purpose is to promote diversity in the food and beverage industry by proving that actively involving women as key drivers of PepsiCo's sustainable sourcing strategy improves financial results.