ITC becomes first in India to get FSA 3.0 certification for wheat and paddy
ITC Limited becomes the first Indian firm to earn FSA 3.0 certification for wheat and paddy, strengthening sustainable, traceable sourcing. The initiative covers 22,000+ acres and 3,500 farmers, boosting yields, incomes, and environmental outcomes while enhancing global market access and credibility with international buyers.
ITC said it has become the first company in India to receive the globally-acknowledged Farm Sustainability Assessment (FSA 3.0) certification for wheat and paddy. ITC has been working on various interventions to empower farmers and connect them to global markets through sustainable, traceable sourcing.
For ITC, FSA certification helps build credibility with global customers by demonstrating that sourcing is responsible, traceable and aligned with international expectations, the company said in a statement. For buyers, especially in regions like the EU, it supports compliance with sustainability commitments and due diligence around issues such as agronomic practices, deforestation and labour standards, it said.
Benefits for farmers and environment
The standards followed and adopted deliver clear benefits both for farmers and the environment. For farmers, they lead to better yields and price realisation with stronger market linkages. From an environmental perspective, these practices help improve soil health and reduce emissions by promoting efficient use of fuel, water, fertilisers, and crop protection inputs.
Scale of implementation in India
ITC has successfully implemented the FSA 3.0 global farming standards across over 22,000 acres in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, engaging over 3,500 farmers across over 70 FPOs. The initiative was anchored within ITC’s large-scale Crop Development Programme, which integrates sustainability, traceability, and inclusivity, earning it the prestigious third-party validation, the company said.
About FSA standards
The Farm Sustainability Assessment (FSA) standards, developed by the Sustainable Agriculture Initiative (SAI) platform with over 190 member organisations, are an internationally recognised framework used by global food and agri companies to assess value-chain sustainability. The latest version, FSA 3.0, was introduced in April 2021.
S Ganesh Kumar, Divisional Chief Executive, Agri Business, ITC Ltd, said, “ITC is deeply committed to empowering farmers by providing them with the knowledge, tools and support needed to adopt globally benchmarked sustainable practices. By promoting cultivation of traceable, high-quality agri produce, we are linking Indian farmers to global markets, addressing needs of international buyers and ensuring higher farmer incomes. Our continued focus on building resilient, farmer-centric value chains demonstrates that sustainability and business competitiveness can go hand in hand, creating long-term benefits for communities and the environment, while strengthening the country’s agri-export competitiveness.”
Structured implementation and compliance
To achieve FSA 3.0, ITC rolled out a well-structured, clearly documented set of on-the-ground initiatives covering training, advisory, implementation, monitoring, and sourcing. These efforts were supported by a strong three-tier external evaluation system to ensure compliance and continuous improvement. To support these efforts, ITC developed around 30 formal policies and guidance documents aligned with FSA standards covering key areas such as agronomy, soil and nutrient management, health, hygiene and safety, use of crop protection inputs, waste handling, water use, environmental management, biodiversity conservation, air quality and emissions, traceability, and overall farm management.
Training and sustainable farming practices
Based on a detailed gap assessment, focused training and capacity building sessions were conducted for both farmers and field teams. At the farm level, demonstration plots and farmer field days were used to promote the adoption of sustainable practices. Farmers were introduced to methods such as direct-seeded rice, zero-tillage, drone spraying, micro-irrigation, and water-saving techniques. Practices such as soil-test-based nutrient application, integrated nutrient management, and the use of climate-resilient crop varieties and advanced nanofertilisers were also encouraged.
Digital tools and ITCMAARS ecosystem
Digital tools played a key role in monitoring and traceability. All participating farms were geo-fenced through ITCMAARS, enabling farm-level tracking and oversight. Sourcing was made end-to-end traceable, supported by separate storage and a Volume Accounting System for accurate tracking. ITCMAARS (Metamarket for Advanced Agriculture and Rural Services) is a “phygital” ecosystem that provides farmers with digital AI-enabled crop advisories, high-quality inputs, and direct market linkages delivered through a dedicated super-app and physical hyper-local agri-services anchored by Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs). The ITCMAARS ecosystem has so far benefitted more than 2.2 million farmers and over 2100 FPOs across 11 states.
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Source : The Hindu Business line
