British International Investment, Akshayakalpa Organic and Samunnati sign partnership to support sustainable farming in India

Akshayakalpa Organic, British International Investment plc (BII), the UK’s development finance institution and impact investor, and Samunnati Financial Intermediation & Services Private Limited (Samunnati) today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to provide financing for up to 1,500 smallholder dairy farmers in the states of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Telangana.  

The partnership will see BII extend guarantees for new and existing Akshayakalpa Organic smallholder farmers, who are typically outside of the formal lending ecosystem. This will enable them to access formal financing in order to scale up their organic dairy business.  

The commitment is made through BII’s £200 million Climate Innovation Facility, announced by the UK Government at COP26, to provide finance for the most pioneering climate solutions in developing countries. 

Through Akshayakalpa Organic’s programmes, farmers are supported to transition to organic,  sustainable and regenerative farming practices to diversify their income streams. This increases milk production per cow by 2.3 times and increases crop productivity per acre while giving farmers the opportunity to obtain organic certification. Transitioning to this organic model is also expected to decrease greenhouse gas emissions per litre of milk produced by Akshayakalpa Organic’s farmers, contributing to climate change mitigation and sustainability of the dairy industry in India.   

Mr. Shashi Kumar, CEO, & Co-founder, Akshayakalpa Organic, stated “This association with British International Investment and Samunnati’s Agri Commerce and Finance Solutions marks a significant milestone for Akshayakalpa. It not only validates our mission to promote sustainable and organic farming but also amplifies our ability to make a positive impact on the lives of our dedicated farmers. We are excited about the possibilities that this collaboration opens up for the future of agriculture in India.” 

Mr. Chandru Iyer, British Deputy High Commissioner – Karnataka & Kerala and HM Deputy Trade Commissioner for South Asia, said: “The UK is committed to supporting environment-resilient farming initiatives in India through British International Investment. We look forward to working with organisations such as Akshayakalpa that are supporting smallholder farmers to ensure sustainable farming practices are implemented which will help to improve food security in India.”   

Mr. Srini Nagarajan, Managing Director and Head of Asia at BII, said: “Promoting inclusion and sustainable practices are key pillars of BII’s strategy in India. As the UK’s DFI, BII is well placed to provide guarantees through this partnership to improve access to finance for smallholder farmers which will help to sustainably increase their productivity and improve their livelihoods, while helping to mitigate climate impact of the dairy industry in India.”  

Mr. Anil Kumar SG, Founder and CEO of Samunnati, stated: “This collaboration not only acknowledges Akshayakalpa Organic’s impactful work in the agricultural sector but also signifies a shared commitment to positive transformation. Together, we aim to benefit both the farmers associated with Akshayakalpa Organic and the broader agricultural landscape.”

ENDS