Section 12: Sustainability & Compliance “Sustainability & Compliance Tracker of Smart Farm Managers”
12.1 Labor Welfare and Legal Compliance; How do you treat farm labor—just as “hands for hire” or as people with rights and dignity? 👉 Example 1: Factories—some pay minimum wage, give PF, helmets; others delay payments, no safety. 👉 Example 2: Farms—workers either get weekly payments, shade, toilets, or just “chale jao” treatment.
12.2 Biodiversity and Regenerative Practices Integration; Do you grow only crops, or also care for birds, bees, and soil life? 👉 Example 1: Monocrop sugarcane vs intercropping with pulses + border trees. 👉 Example 2: Bare fields vs hedgerows, nesting spots, pollinator plants.
12.3 Certification Readiness (Organic, GAP, Fairtrade, Carbon Credits); Can your farm withstand third-party audits and qualify for certifications? 👉 Example: Selling mangoes—some say “natural,” others actually get NPOP, GAP, Fairtrade labels.
12.4 Ethical Governance & Fair Trade Principles; Do you practice fairness with suppliers, buyers, and workers—or only focus on your margins? 👉 Example: Paying farmers promptly vs delaying; giving fair price to labor vs exploiting.
12.5 Adherence to Environmental Norms, Biodiversity Considerations; Do you comply with environmental laws—or cut corners? 👉 Example: Borewell permissions, chemical storage, effluent disposal.
12.6 Waste Management and Recycling Practices; How do you deal with farm waste—burn it, dump it, or recycle it? 👉 Example: Tomato harvest waste—dump in field vs convert into compost/biogas.
12.7 Carbon Footprint and Climate Resilience Planning; Do you track your carbon/water footprint and plan for climate shocks? 👉 Example: Cold chain = higher energy; do you offset? Drought risk = do you prepare tanks, mulches?
12.8 Safety Standards (Chemical Handling, Machinery Use); Do you ensure safety in spraying chemicals, handling machines, or is it “chalta hai”?
12.9 Labor Law Compliance & Ethical Practices; Do you follow labor laws (working hours, benefits, child labor ban) or cut corners? 👉 Example: Some farms employ underage kids, others follow strict compliance.
