People

 

The ‘People’ part of the Triple Bottom Line is associated with the measure of social responsibility of the project. This is related directly to the stakeholders involved in the project. Stakeholders are people, a group or an organisation that has an interest or concern with an organisation. They can be affected by the actions, objectives and policies of the organisation. A project that checks the ‘People’ tick box involves fair and beneficial business practices towards the labour, community and region of the project. The project does not exploit or endanger the labour force. For example, no child labour exploitation, fair salaries, safe working environment and tolerable hours for workers. There are a number of stakeholders involved in the Laikipia project.

 

Non-Governmental Organisations
This project is working directly with Syngenta Foundation and Syngenta

East Africa in addition with the Fair Labor Association to improve labour

standards and the World Health Organisation to prevent the misuse of crop

protection products.

Investors
Syngenta ensure that future and current investors are always up to date by

communicating through individual and group meetings, results presentations

and site meetings.

Employees
All Syngenta employees have open and direction communication within the

organisation, and are able to provide feedback through a number of channels

responses are given on a local level.

Government
Syngenta works together with local government authorities to achieve the Millennium Development Goals and to address national issues including agricultural policies, intellectual property, and investment and tax.

Growers
The project’s main aim is to improve crop yields and income levels of resource-poor Kenyan smallholders to progress beyond subsistence farming. This is done by providing training on safe and sustainable farming practices (eg. Integrated Soil Fertility Management ISPM training), providing access to markets, and providing technology in market-led extension service. Thousands of smallholders are trained in labour safety which are based on the ‘Five Golden Rules’: caution and care, understanding product labels, personal hygiene, care of equipment and appropriate protective clothing and equipment. In addition, the project will focus on the youth in the dissemination of technologies and training. Syngenta aims for at least 20% direct contact through field force with smallholders who buy their products and fair labor conditions throughout their entire supply chain network.

Community
The project focuses on training farmers in conservation agriculture, however this includes strengthening the rural community. Not only are growers trained in the technical sides of farming, they are also trained in business, such as cash flow management training which teaches farmers how to meet their financial needs and improve their and their family’s lifestyles. Additionally, through the Toxicovigilance program, Syngenta ensures that physicians get advice on the misuse of pesticides and have a 24-hour helpline.