Best global agricultural practices and use of high efficiency irrigation system (HEIS) adopted by the potato growers of Kasur district under PepsiCo's Sustainable Farming Programme (SFP) have resulted in increase of 10 to 20 percent in yield besides reduced cost of production, saving water and positive impact on environment. The SFP is a global initiative launched by PepsiCo where the company engages with farmers from which it sources directly, and provides education on field agronomy, fertilizers, irrigation, plant protection techniques, environment and new technologies.
This was disclosed at an event arranged by the company on Wednesday showcasing global best practices in sustainable farming, so that PepsiCo potato growers can employ those processes and techniques at the farm level in order to become more sustainable.
The demonstrations were conducted on a grower's model farm in Kasur, where growers had the opportunity to see how sustainable practices improved both quantity as well as quality of potato crop yield. In 2017 alone, PepsiCo growers helped conserve approximately 1 billion liters of water by using HEIS on their farms.
"We are excited about imparting critical knowledge on sustainability best practices to our growers," said Zahid Saleem, Head of PepsiCo Pakistan's Agronomy function. "By putting this knowledge into action, our growers are helping the environment and also improving their own livelihoods in the process."
He said that the programme was initiated in year 2016 when large scale trainings were arranged for the growers under this programme regarding conservation of water, best agricultural practices and environment. He said year 2019 is the year for compliance. He disclosed that audit teams from different countries would come and check the practices adopted by the growers in under SFP programme in Pakistan and only those would continue who will be find following the guidelines.
CFO of Company, Omar Yousaf said that quality of the crop was improved during the last five years while company never focused on price strategy instead of long term relations. 'The price fluctuates on both sides while company believes in long term productivity', he added.
Operational Manger Yasir Ghani said that growers were earlier using double water than required for their potato crop. He said there was huge potential to reduce the cost of production and water saving. He said the company was the market leader in the salty snacks category, and procures 100 percent of the potatoes used for its products in Pakistan from local farmers.
Anees Amin, Agro Regional Manager of the programme speaking on this occasion said that the Company had set a target of achieving 15 percent of water saving on the farms of growers under SFP programme by year 2025.