John Deere Foundation earns U.S. Chamber Corporate Citizens Award

MOLINE, Ill., Nov. 16, 2017 /CNW/ -- The John Deere Foundation has earned the Citizens Award for Best Community Improvement Program from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation Corporate Citizenship Center. The awards were announced last night in Washington D.C.

Deere was recognized for its work with PYXERA Global to develop the Joint Initiative for Village Advancement. JIVA empowers approximately 6,000 villagers who live in rural Rajasthan, India to improve their lives through resilient agriculture, accountable education, and foundational infrastructure.

"JIVA was co-designed with the communities in Rajasthan to ensure long-term success and sustainability," said Mara Downing, president of the John Deere Foundation. "JIVA's approach to economic empowerment is guided by the belief that farmers are among the world's most gifted entrepreneurs, capable of making the best decisions for their families, their communities, and themselves."

Since JIVA's launch in 2013, Downing said, improvements in farming practices and the introduction of high value crops have allowed farmers in the region to increase their annual income, some by as much as three times.

Downing said enhancements in education have motivated 90 percent of village students to pass their tenth-grade exams in 2017, compared with 31 percent four years ago. In addition, village residents are investing their income to improve farming, education and other aspects of their community.

For 18 years, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation Corporate Citizenship Awards have honored businesses for their significant positive impacts in communities around the world. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation is dedicated to strengthening America's long-term competitiveness by educating the public on the conditions necessary for business and communities to thrive, on how business positively impacts communities, and on emerging issues and creative solutions that will shape the future.

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SOURCE Deere & Company