BCTA MEMBERSHIP STATUS
Alumni

SECTOR
Chemicals

HEADQUARTERS
India

REGION OF INITIATIVE
Asia & Pacific

SDG CONTRIBUTION

BASF creates chemistry and has been doing so for 150 years. The company portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics, performance products and crop protection products to oil and gas. As the world's leading chemical company, BASF is working to combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. Through science and innovation, BASF enables customers in nearly every industry to meet the current and future needs of society. BASF products and solutions contribute to conserving resources, ensuring nutrition and improving quality of life. Overall, the mission and corporate purpose is in creating chemistry for a sustainable future.

As part of the BCtA initiative, BASF conceived the 'Samruddhi' project in 2007. Samruddhi addresses needs of farmers in a holistic way by enhancing productivity in crops like Soybeans. 'Samruddhi' which means prosperity in Sanskrit focuses on prosperity for the farmers and for India. For BASF in India, it also stands for an all-inclusive business approach in helping farmers and their communities become more sustainable. As part of the project, participating farmers receive customized advice on interventions from land preparation up to harvest. Farmers also receive advice about seed selection, seed treatment, planting, fertilizer selection including insect and disease management. The goal of the Samruddhi project is to help farmers improve productivity and quality of their crops and contribute to the sustainable development of Indian agriculture.

A recent study on Samruddhi indicated that average yield on Samruddhi farms were 25.3% higher than farms in which traditional farm practices were undertaken. Samruddhi soybean received a price that was 1.5% higher and the average net income of farmers increased by 38.7% due to adoption of Samruddhi practices. Most Samruddhi farmers intended to use the additional incremental income for improving their daily living standards (food, medicine, education, etc) and their farm practices (better seeds, balanced use of fertilizer etc). The Samruddhi project has benefited over 180,000 farmers and will continue to expand its reach to more farmers.

Raman Ramachandran, BASF South Asia, interview at BCtA Forum 2014

Raman Ramachandran, BASF South Asia, interview at BCtA Forum 2014