Program Overview and Results

AWL Agri Business Limited, as lead sponsor alongside partners Bunge India, Louis Dreyfus India, Godrej Agrovet, VVF India, JR Agro Industries, and Arihant Solvex, supported the SEA-led Regenerative Mustard Model Farm Programme implemented by Solidaridad Network Asia. The program covered 3,000 Front Line Demonstration (FLD) plots across 14 districts in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Haryana during the 2025–26 Rabi season.

Key yield improvements and economic benefits were recorded:

  • Rajasthan: 1,320 demonstration plots across Baran, Bundi, Kota, Jhalawar, and Tonk districts saw a 30% yield increase from 1,853 kg/ha to 2,409 kg/ha. Benefit-cost ratio improved from 2.6 to 4.0.
  • Haryana: 100 demonstration plots across Rewari and Mahendragarh districts achieved a 30% yield increase from 1,900 kg/ha to 2,470 kg/ha. Benefit-cost ratio improved from 3.5 to 4.8.
  • Madhya Pradesh: 1,580 demonstration plots across Mandsaur, Neemuch, Ratlam, Shajapur, Agar Malwa, Vidisha, and Raisen districts recorded a 20.5% yield increase from 1,900 kg/ha to 2,295 kg/ha. Benefit-cost ratio improved from 2.5 to 3.1.

The program also included 27 Farmer Field Schools (FFS) to facilitate knowledge exchange among farmers.

Expansion Plans

Building on these results, the program will expand during the 2026–27 crop cycle:

  • Kharif Season: Over 400 regenerative groundnut and soybean model farms
  • Rabi Season: Over 3,000 regenerative rape-mustard model farms

Expansion will continue across Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Haryana.

Strategic Context and Rationale

The initiative aligns with the Government of India's National Mission on Edible Oils–Oilseeds (NMEO-OS), which aims to enhance domestic oilseed production and reduce India's edible oil import dependency (currently 55–60%). The program demonstrates how regenerative agriculture can improve productivity, soil health, input efficiency, and farm economics while building climate resilience.

Management Commentary

Shrikant Kanhere, Managing Director and CEO of AWL Agri Business Limited, stated: "India's journey towards edible oil self-reliance begins with improving productivity at the farm level. The encouraging results of this programme demonstrate that regenerative agriculture can help farmers produce more while improving soil health and using inputs more efficiently. Collaborative initiatives like these create a scalable model that can strengthen farmer incomes, build climate resilience and contribute meaningfully to India's long-term food and nutrition security."

Company Background

AWL Agri Business Ltd. (formerly Adani Wilmar Ltd.) is described as one of India's largest Food & FMCG companies with a portfolio including edible oils, wheat flour, rice, pulses, and sugar under its Fortune brand. The company has over 80 manufacturing facilities across 11 states, including India's largest single-location refinery in Mundra (5,000 tons per day capacity). Its distribution network includes 98 stock points, over 10,000 distributors and sub-distributors, and a retail network of 2.6 million outlets.