CSR Contributions in Agriculture in India

• India became the first country to legally mandate Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) a decade ago.
• From 2014 to 2023, ₹1.84 lakh crore of CSR funds were disbursed.
• Agriculture accounts for 16.73% of India’s GDP and employs nearly 47% of the population.
• 23% of companies surveyed had “environment and sustainability” as their CSR priority area.
• Challenges include determining the extent of funding going into these projects consistently and distinctively, and categorizing them based on targeted sectors of CSR activities.
• CSR activities have previously contributed to capital requirements and infrastructural development in Indian agriculture.
• Current reporting mechanisms have little emphasis on agriculture-related CSR initiatives.
• Activities targeting agricultural sustainability could fall under 11 of the 29 development sectors of CSR allocations.
• Specifying agriculture as a distinct sector in CSR activities is crucial.
• Transitioning the reporting framework based on sectors receiving funds would help streamline and better target the available funds, add more meaning to the contributions, and ensure transparency.