Udaipur, 27th November 2024: Hindustan Zinc’s Samadhan Initiative is redefining rural livelihoods by empowering dairy farmers across Rajasthan. Through its transformative approach, the initiative has created opportunities for self-reliance, economic stability, and prosperity in rural communities, as evidenced by the inspiring stories of Narayani Dangi and Prem Vyas.
Transforming Lives through Collective Action
Widowed at a young age, Narayani Dangi from Bicchadi village faced daunting economic challenges, earning just ₹25-30 per liter of milk. Her fortunes changed when she joined the Ghatawali Mataji Farmer Producer Organization (GMFPO) under Hindustan Zinc’s Samadhan Initiative. With improved pricing of ₹40 per liter, veterinary support, and access to affordable, nutritious cattle feed, Narayani now enjoys a stable and hopeful future.
Similarly, Prem Vyas from Matoon village turned adversity into opportunity when her husband lost his job during the COVID-19 pandemic. Starting small, the family scaled up their dairy farming operations with Hindustan Zinc’s support, increasing production from 10 to 85 liters daily. Today, their monthly income has grown to ₹40,000-45,000, ensuring financial security.
The Power of Farmer Producer Organizations
At the heart of this transformation is GMFPO, a women-led farmer producer organization established in 2022 in Bicchadi village. Operating under the Samadhan Initiative, GMFPO provides critical market linkages, fair pricing, and sustainable income for over 1,000 shareholders from multiple villages, including Debari, Matoon, Singhada, and Changedi.
Operating under the brand Gauam, GMFPO processes and markets high-quality dairy products like A2 Bilona Ghee, paneer, and curd through partnerships with premium brands like the Taj Group of Hotels and e-commerce platforms like Amazon. Since its inception, GMFPO has processed over 4 lakh liters of milk, generating revenues of ₹2.5 crore.
Empowering Farmers through Modern Practices
Under the Samadhan program, Hindustan Zinc equips farmers with modern techniques in agriculture, livestock care, and clean milk production. GMFPO has achieved significant milestones, with annual revenues growing from ₹56.43 lakh in FY 2022-23 to ₹1 crore in FY 2023-24 and ₹87.65 lakh in the first half of FY 2024-25.
The initiative provides vital interventions like artificial insemination, veterinary care, and training programs, significantly enhancing productivity and profitability for farmers.
A Legacy of Holistic Community Development
Hindustan Zinc’s community initiatives extend beyond dairy farming. The company has positively impacted over 20 lakh lives across 3,700 villages in Rajasthan and Uttarakhand through programs in education, sports, skill-building, and rural infrastructure development. Recognized among India’s top 10 CSR spenders, Hindustan Zinc remains committed to creating self-sustaining ecosystems that drive holistic rural development.