East-West Seed India honors farmer partners at special felicitation ceremony in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar

JC Filippi personally felicitated the farmer partners, making the occasion a warm and meaningful expression of appreciation for their contribution to the farming community and their partnership with East-West Seed.

The 26 farmers came from 13 locations across six states: Telangana, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Karnataka. The group included four women farmers, whose presence added an important dimension to the celebration.

As part of the program, all the participating farmers were also presented with solar lamps—a small but thoughtful gesture representing light, sustainability, and the company’s commitment to supporting farming communities beyond the seed itself.

For East-West Seed India, the occasion was about pausing to recognize the people who take the first step with the company every season.

“Farmers are not just partners in our business; they are at the heart of why we exist. Every season, they place their trust in our seeds, our people and our advice. This felicitation is our way of saying thank you—for that trust, for their hard work and for allowing us to be part of their farming journey,” said Rahul Pagar, Country General Manager, East-West Seed India.

For the farmers, the occasion was equally personal. “I felt very happy and proud to be here. We work hard on our farms, and it feels very special when that effort is recognized. Being invited here and receiving the solar lamp made the day even more memorable for me,” said Sangita Babasaheb Jadhava, a woman farmer who attended the felicitation.

The gathering brought together farmers from different regions and farming communities, but shared a common connection—the trust built between farmers and the people who work alongside them.

East-West Seed India remains committed to serving smallholder farmers by delivering high-quality vegetable seeds, knowledge, and partnerships that support sustainable livelihoods and resilient food systems.

East-West Seed India is widely recognized for its leadership in innovation, sustainability, and people practices. The company received honors at the BW Emerging Business Awards 2025 for Innovation and Social Impact, and at the India Business Awards for Global Leadership in Innovation and Sustainable Practices, with special recognition for supporting women farmers. East-West Seed India is also a Great Place to Work Certified, reflecting its commitment to an inclusive, high-trust workplace culture.

About East-West Seed

Founded by Dutch seedsman Simon Groot in 1982, East-West Seed has become one of the world’s leading vegetable seed companies with a strong presence in Asia, Africa and Latin America. East-West Seed is committed to its mission of improving livelihoods for vegetable farmers and has focused on developing tropical vegetable varieties adapted to local growing conditions and educating farmers on production and farming skills.

Headquartered in Nonthaburi, Thailand, the company employs over 2,800 people and has set up 20 research and development facilities in nine different countries, exporting to over 75 tropical nations, reaching millions of farmers.

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