Corporate social responsibility: win-win propositions for communities, corporates and agriculture.

Chapter 5 (Page no: 83)

Improving livelihoods through watershed interventions: a case study of SABMiller India project.

Water plays an important role in the semi-arid tropical region to address water scarcity, land degradation, and crop and livestock productivity which improves the rural livelihood system. The Charminar Breweries (formerly SABMiller, and since merged with AB InBev) in Sangareddy district, Telangana, India has adopted an integrated approach to address the above issues in nearby villages of the plant under corporate social responsibility initiative between 2009 and 2017 in a phased manner. The major interventions implemented in the project focused on rainwater harvesting, productivity enhancement through soil test-based fertilizer application, improved crop cultivars, enriching soil organic carbon and improved agronomic practices. Further, livestock productivity was addressed by promoting spent malt (a by-product of the brewing industry, rich in carbohydrate, protein and other minerals) and improved breeding through artificial insemination. Various ex-situ interventions for water management enabled harvesting of nearly 150,000 m³ water every year and facilitated groundwater recharge, which resulted in increased water table of 0.5-1 ft across the geographical extent of nearly 7000 ha. Further, productivity interventions enhanced crop yield and cropping intensity by 30-50% compared to baseline situation. The livestock interventions enhanced milk yield by 1-2 l/day/animal. The watershed programme also introduced various income-generating activities for women and landless such as distribution of spent malt as animal feed, kitchen garden, vermicomposting and nursery raising. The programme has benefited nearly 5000 households directly or indirectly and increased household income by rupee 10,000 to rupee 25,000 per annum and contributed significantly towards improving rural livelihood along with strengthening various environmental services.

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