THE PROCUREMENT INTERVIEW
“Climate-smart agriculture practices need to become embedded in daily operations”
Dale Creaser, Vice President of Global Supply Chain, Mars Food & Nutrition
Mars has deployed cost-sharing models to overcome this obstacle, particularly through the Water Stewardship and Sustainable Rice Production( WAPRO) programme in India and Pakistan, delivered in partnership with HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation.
The WAPRO programme trained farmers in sustainable rice cultivation and provided financial incentives for adopting water-saving techniques including drip irrigation, laser levelling and AWD. All participating farmers reduced water use while improving efficiency and yields. By subsidising water-saving technologies, Mars enabled participation from farmers who might otherwise have been unable to afford such investments.
Dale emphasises that ensuring long-term adoption requires sustained engagement. He adds:“ Climate-smart agriculture practices need to become embedded in daily operations, which is why programmes like our SARI in Thailand work with farmers over multiple years – providing ongoing training, digital tools and support building capabilities that last.”
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