HDFC Bank Parivartan Kashmir Farmers: HDFC Bank, through its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme Parivartan, is strengthening agricultural livelihoods in Jammu and Kashmir by supporting farmer collectives, improving farming practices and creating better market opportunities for locally grown produce. The initiative focuses on strengthening the entire agricultural value chain, from cultivation and processing to branding and marketing, helping farmers secure greater value from their produce.
Implemented in partnership with ISAP India Foundation and Citizens Foundation, the programme supports Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) across Kashmir. The FPOs supported under the initiative collectively generate revenues of up to ₹5.2 crore, with one FPO reporting revenue of ₹1.4 crore. A major highlight of the programme is SAMARKASH, a dedicated brand through which participating FPOs market their processed agricultural products. The initiative supports farmer collectives with branding, packaging and market linkages, helping them move beyond selling raw agricultural produce and explore opportunities in value-added products.
From Saffron Fields to Food Processing: Strengthening Kashmir’s Agricultural Value Chain
Agriculture remains central to Kashmir’s economy and cultural identity, with saffron, apples, walnuts and Kashmiri red chilli serving as important sources of rural income. However, farmers often face challenges such as climate variability, low productivity, post-harvest losses and limited access to organised markets. HDFC Bank Parivartan is addressing these challenges through interventions that combine improved agricultural practices with modern infrastructure and market-oriented solutions. Farmers are being supported through solar water pumps, drip irrigation, mulching and polyhouse farming to improve cultivation practices and resource efficiency.
The programme has also supported processing facilities for apples, walnuts, saffron, Kashmiri red chilli, milk and traditional bakery products. These facilities are equipped with solar dryers, cold storage and other machinery to improve post-harvest management, preservation, grading, sorting and processing.
Pampore Saffron Farmers Get Support Through Solar Technology
In Pampore, known for its distinctive saffron cultivation, the programme is supporting farmers through improved agricultural practices and infrastructure. Interventions include solar water pumps, solar dryers, FPO development and stronger market linkages. These initiatives aim to improve cultivation practices, strengthen post-harvest handling and create better commercial opportunities for farmers associated with Kashmir’s valuable saffron industry.
The programme is also supporting apple and walnut processing through improved infrastructure, including solar dryers and machinery for grading and sorting. By enabling farmers to process and preserve their produce, the facilities are helping FPOs develop market-ready products and explore opportunities beyond the sale of raw crops.
Uri Farmers Benefit from Improved Chilli Farming and Processing Facilities
In Uri, farmers growing Kashmiri red chilli are receiving support through polyhouse farming, drip irrigation and solar drying facilities. These interventions are aimed at improving cultivation practices and reducing post-harvest losses while strengthening agricultural livelihoods in border communities.
The programme’s focus extends beyond agricultural production to helping farmers build sustainable rural enterprises. Through SAMARKASH, participating FPOs are receiving support to improve product presentation, packaging and marketing, making locally processed agricultural products more market-ready.
Nusrat Pathan, Head – CSR, HDFC Bank, said Kashmir’s distinctive agricultural produce offers significant opportunities to improve the value farmers derive from their crops. She highlighted that Parivartan is working with implementation partners to improve farming practices, strengthen food processing infrastructure and expand market linkages.
She further noted that initiatives such as SAMARKASH help farmer collectives take their products closer to consumers through branding and value addition, while supporting locally relevant solutions for sustainable rural livelihoods.
SAMARKASH Helps Farmers Move Beyond Selling Raw Produce
The impact of these interventions is also reflected in the experience of farmer collectives. Bashir Ahmad Ganie, President of Kirmaniya Fruit Fed FPC, said that farmers earlier had to sell their produce raw immediately after harvest, often accepting whatever price was offered.
With access to processing facilities, drying infrastructure and the SAMARKASH brand, FPO members can now process, package and market their products more independently. He also highlighted that these opportunities are encouraging young people to consider agriculture as a viable livelihood in Kashmir.
HDFC Bank Parivartan Expands CSR Reach Across India
Beyond agricultural development in Kashmir, HDFC Bank Parivartan also supports alternative livelihood opportunities, including skill development initiatives for women. During FY 2025-26, the Bank extended its CSR coverage to 498 border villages across India, in line with national priorities under the Border Area Development Programme and the Vibrant Villages Programme.
According to the Bank, Parivartan has impacted more than 10.77 crore people across all 28 states and eight Union Territories. HDFC Bank spent ₹1,316.18 crore on CSR initiatives during FY 2025-26, taking its cumulative CSR investment under Parivartan to approximately ₹7,492 crore since the programme’s inception.
The programme covers six key areas: rural development, education, skill training and livelihood enhancement, healthcare and hygiene, financial literacy and inclusion, and natural resource management. Its flagship Holistic Rural Development Programme (HRDP) currently covers more than 11,000 villages.
Focus on Sustainable Farming and Farmer Income Growth
As part of its wider rural development strategy, HDFC Bank Parivartan aims to improve the annual incomes of five lakh low-income farmers through sustainable agricultural practices, farmer collectivisation and stronger market linkages.
The Bank’s Crop Residue Management initiative, implemented in partnership with CII Foundation, has helped protect more than 3.26 lakh acres of farmland from stubble burning across Punjab and Haryana. The initiative has reached 86,000 farmers in over 380 villages, with agricultural machinery made available through more than 140 farmer cooperatives and FPOs.
Through its Kashmir-focused interventions and wider rural development programmes, HDFC Bank Parivartan is seeking to strengthen farmer-owned enterprises, improve agricultural value chains and create more sustainable income opportunities. By combining modern farming practices, processing infrastructure and organised market access, the initiative aims to help rural communities build stronger and more resilient livelihoods.
