AHMEDABAD: McCain India organized a tree plantation drive in Baliyasan village, Mehsana district, Gujarat under the ambit of Project Shakti, its flagship CSR – Corporate Social Responsibility program.
The plantation drive initiated in association with the Gram Panchayat members including the Sarpanch and Talati of the village focuses on increasing the green cover in the village. The plant employees along with residents of the village planted 30 saplings alongside the main road of the village to provide shade and beautification. The saplings have been procured from the forest department and will be protected by cast iron guards.
Understanding the importance of saving the environment, every year, through Project Shakti, McCain India plants saplings across villages. This year the company has planted 2500 plants in 4 villages, including Baliyasan in June 2021. Recognizing the positive benefits of an increased green cover, the panchayat members reached out to the company to plant more trees at the main entrance of the village.
Speaking on the occasion, Rakesh Mendiratta, Plant Manager at McCain India, said, “We have all witnessed climate change over the last two decades and we all need to contribute to a sustainable environment for future generations. Plantation drive is the need of the hour to protect our environment from pollution and global warming. Additionally, the communities have also realized the importance of planting trees for the village development. McCain India will continue to remain committed to its communities and will be focusing on long term investments in community development programs.”
McCain India started the plantation drive in 2019 with 200 saplings. Unfortunately, the activity could not continue in 2020 due to pandemic and lockdown. This year, the company scaled up and planted 2500 saplings across 4 villages and plans to reach out to 2 more villages this year. McCain India also sees this as an opportunity to build relations and harmony with the local communities along with engaging employees for various team building activities.
Project Shakti
Project Shakti is all about empowering women and girls and bringing positive changes in their lives through capacity building and training, sensitization and enabling environment for adopting alternative livelihoods through micro enterprises. The focus has been on empowering and enhancing soft skills, knowledge, and confidence of girls & women through capacity development interventions and encouraging them to earn their own livelihoods through gainful employment. Initiated in 2017, Project Shakti now reaches close to 600 women through 45 Self Help Groups. The project focuses on livelihood enhancement through farm and non-farm activities.
Learn more about McCain’s sustainability commitments as well as its journey towards regenerative agriculture in Together, Towards Planet-Friendly Food, 2020 Global Sustainability Report Summary at mccain.com/sustainability.
McCain Foods Ltd. is one of the world’s largest producers of French Fries and Potato Specialties. Headquartered in Florenceville, New Brunswick, Canada, McCain has grown to become a global leader in the frozen food industry with 49 production facilities, 22000+ people and its footprints across 160 countries. McCain Foods (India) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of McCain Foods Limited in Canada. Since 1998, McCain has been engaged in agriculture R&D and in development of the frozen food market in India and subcontinent countries. McCain products are used by leading fast food chains, hotels, restaurants, catering companies and are popular for in-home consumption.
