ITC Ltd is working on a set of plans to mitigate the impact of the impending harsh summer on the agri supply chain as part of its broader intervention in the area of climate change.

The company, which works with millions of farmers across the country to source varied farm products to support its tobacco, paper, agri and food businesses, has chalked out region specific practices to minimise the impact of extreme weather events such as heat waves and heavy rains.

“There is a short-term set of actions that we are doing,” Sanjiv Puri, the chairman and managing director of ITC Ltd, said at the sidelines of the eastern annual regional meeting of CII, when asked to comment on the company’s plans on the face of the harsh summer projected by the met department.

As part of the plan, the agronomy teams within the agri-business division of the ITC have unveiled multi-dimensional measures, including the introduction of heat tolerant varieties, crop cycle approach, in situ and timely planting, broadbed and furrow system, mulching, critical irrigation and use of heat-ameliorating sprays to reduce heat stress.

Moreover, the company has been trying to promote climate smart agriculture, the CMD added.

“Popularising varieties that are climate resilient, educating people to have a contingency plan. Suppose, at some time some weather event happens and crop gets damaged; so I have the seeds to plant again so at least to recoup some amount instead of losing (completely),” Puri pointed out.

The company’s effort is buttressed by ITCMAARS, the digital super-app created by ITC, together with the FPO (farmers’ producer organisation) ecosystem and supported by field demonstrations under Choupal Pradarshan Khets enable farmers to adopt the recommended practices to combat the threat of climate change.

The company said climate smart agriculture initiative has benefitted over 5.9 lakh farmers, covering over 18 lakh acres in 79 districts in 17 states already.

From 2020 onwards, ITC has also embarked upon a climate risk modelling to identify hotspots. Once the hotspots are identified and based on the nature of the problem, the company proposes to take mitigating steps.

While extreme weather events can jeopardise the agri supply chain for any farm-focused company, they can also change the dynamics of demand in a deeply agrarian country like India.

Puri, however, does not see the impact of the hot summer on rural demand.