Pernod Ricard India (PRI), a fully owned subsidiary of Pernod Ricard South Asia and an alcohol-beverage company, has said that its CSR programmes on WAL (water, agriculture, livelihoods) work with more than 10,000 farmers every year.

A media statement said the major focus of WAL is to ensure communities have access to water throughout the year. Since 2019, the programme has helped recharge 4,484 million litres of groundwater with the help of 2,355 structures. It also promotes micro-irrigation to boost crop production.

Quoting Gagandeep Sethi, Senior Vice-President, Integrated Operations and S&R (Sustainability and Responsibility), the statement said, “At Pernod Ricard India, our S&R initiatives are guided by the ‘Good Times from a Good Place’ philosophy. The WAL initiative is at the forefront of all our sustainability efforts. It reflects our commitment to sustainable agriculture by empowering communities with water security, innovative practices and meaningful impact. Through IoT technology and AI- driven analytics, PRI is driving lasting impact with data-driven insights that empower farmers to optimise resources and track sustainability metrics with precision.”

The statement said PRI’s focus on collective success has enhanced the livelihood of more than 4,000 farmers in 150 villages. Eight farmer producer organisations (FPOs) across five States of Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh, led by small and marginal farmers foster collaboration, equip them with scientific knowledge, and provide access to critical resources such as inputs, credit and market intelligence.

Mentioning that women empowerment is a cornerstone of PRI’s inclusive development initiatives, the company said it is fostering entrepreneurial leadership among women through its 56 women producer groups.

PRI said that women-led microenterprises thrive in Nashik with innovative projects such as tomato poly-tunnels, flour mills, and sewai machines spanning three villages, seven self-help groups and 60 women.

PRI’s initiatives in papad-making in Kanpur and mustard oil production in Behror have transformed traditional skills into sustainable enterprises, it said, adding, women now comprise 50 per cent of FPO board members and 35 per cent of its shareholders, it added.