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improving their market access and bargaining power. These tangible success stories inspire broader adoption
They can negotiate better terms with buyers and build within communities. Milky Mist's IPO Plans: Raising INR 2,000 Crore to
partnerships with the private sector. However, food wastage is a significant challenge we face. Fuel Expansion and Diversification
Intensive farming and sustainable farming are both One-third of all food produced globally is lost or
crucial—one to provide nutrition for the 8 billion wasted—often due to inadequate post-harvest handling
people on the planet, and the other to ensure the and consumer preferences for aesthetically "perfect"
planet's long-term health. What is your opinion on food. Heifer addresses on-farm losses by improving
both practices? storage and handling practices while actively raising
Traditional methods of agriculture and livestock farming consumer awareness. As we discuss sustainable farming, Image Source: IPO
have contributed significantly to feeding the world's it is equally crucial to emphasize the role of consumer
growing population, but their environmental behavior in promoting sustainable consumption.
costs—carbon emissions, deforestation, soil Lastly, how do you see the future of smallholder
degradation, biodiversity loss, and water scarcity-are farming in the next 10 years?
unsustainable. Therefore,we must transition to In the next 10 years, smallholder farming has immense
sustainable farming and livestock practices. Heifer
International's mission is to end hunger and poverty potential as the world recognizes the critical role
while caring for the Earth. We are at the forefront of smallholders play in food security, biodiversity, and
supporting smallholder farmers towards regenerative combating climate change. However, realizing this
agriculture and adopting climate-smart practices while potential requires a shift toward more sustainable and
enhancing productivity and resilience. inclusive agricultural practices. At Heifer, we believe
smallholder farmers will lead the global movement
In Nepal, Heifer has introduced climate-adaptive
measures like resilient livestock sheds and extensive toward regenerative agriculture. By adopting practices
fodder cultivation. Thisensures year-round feed such as agroecology, organic farming, and diversified Erode-based paneer to ice-cream maker Milky Mist is The IPO plan comes after the company tried raising
availability, reducing overgrazing and preventing land systems, smallholders can increase productivity while poised to tap into the public markets for an initial public private equity capital on at least three occasions, after
degradation. Farmers are adopting stall-feeding systems protecting the environment. Through climate-smart offering (IPO) to fuel its expansion plans, a senior talks with players like Peak XV Partners (formerly
Sequoia Capital India), WestBridge, and others.
company executive said.
that replace traditional grazing with high-biomass, agriculture, women-led cooperatives, and innovative
nutrient-rich fodder crops, improving soil fertility, and technologies, we envision farmers building resilience The company is planning to raise around INR 1,500- "The process was taking a bit more time with private
equity players. We were in the middle of our project
2,000 crore through the IPO over the next 10 to 12
optimizing land use. In hilly regions prone to water against climate change, improving soil health, and months at a valuation of INR 20,000 crore. execution activities during that time," Rathnam
scarcity, Heifer supports the construction of soil-cement promoting biodiversity. It will be following the footsteps of other listed players explained.
ponds managed by farmer collectives. These ponds Access to training, resources, and financial support is key like Hatsun Agro Products, Heritage Foods, Parag Milk During the previous financial year, the company
harvest rainwater and stream water, ensuring a steady to shifting smallholders away from unsustainable Foods, and Dodla Dairy. Nestle, Britannia, and unlisted reported a top line of around INR 1,940 crore and
supply for livestock and crops during dry seasons. practices. With climate-resilient crops, water-saving Amul are the other major players in the dairy products generated profits of INR 50 crore.
Farmers in Cambodia are leveraging solar energy to technologies, and organic fertilizers, farmers can help segment. “We are targeting a 40% growth in the top line with a
operate vegetable tunnel farms, incubators, irrigation reduce carbon emissions from the agricultural sector. "We are exploring the timings and other activities. Our target of INR 2,700 crore during the current financial
systems, and cold storage facilities. This innovation has Through technology and innovation, farmers will tap into financials and product marketing are well set. Any of the year. We will be able to reach that target driven by our
opened new opportunities for farmers in off-grid areas new markets, boosting their income and livelihoods. IPO process will take ten to twelve months. We are expansion to markets other than South and also the
while eliminating the need for fuel-based generators, Financial inclusion will improve through partnerships planning to raise around INR 1,500-2,000 crore," said K rapid growth in existing markets," he elaborated.
reducing both costs and carbon emissions.In that make loans and investments more accessible, Rathnam, chief executive officer of Milky Mist Dairy. The company is seeing a 20% organic growth in its
Bangladesh, biogas systems have successfully replaced enabling smallholders to scale their agri enterprises. "We need to do some expansion on some value-added existing market.
traditional cooking fuels, while the slurry by-product is At Heifer, we are committed to helping millions of products. When you are talking about a national brand, "Ice-creams, milk-shakes, and beverages coming out of
used as a natural fertilizer or sold in markets, reducing smallholder farmer families achieve a sustainable living you need to have a presence outside South," Rathnam our new plant will be an added advantage of another INR
reliance on chemical inputs. income. But we cannot do it alone. We call upon diverse added. 250-300 crore in sales," Rathnam said.
In India, Heifer supports women farmers learn actors and multi-stakeholder collaborations to unite in Milky Mist founded by T Sathish Kumar, a high school During the current year, the company has lined up an
dropout, in 1994, is one of the classic examples of
regenerative practices like organic farming and zero support of smallholders, addressing the challenges of entrepreneurial ingenuity in India. investment of INR 650 crore over the next two-and-a-half
tillage through Farmer Field Schools. Scaling these poverty, hunger, and climate change. By working years, including a 60-tonne powder plant, and a 100-
practices often begins with demonstration plots together, we can create lasting change for communities, Over the years, it began expanding to value-added tonne paneer plant.
products such as curd, butter, cheese, yogurt, and ice-
managed by lead farmers, showcasing the tangible economies, and the future of food systems worldwide. cream, by tapping into an upwardly mobile consumer "We will focus on value-added products. We are looking
at Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Madhya
benefits of climate-smart and regenerative agriculture. base in India. Pradesh, in addition to Delhi-NCR,” he added.

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