IFC, Jain Irrigation Launch Footprint Initiative in India to Conserve Water

In New Delhi: 
Minakshi Seth 
Phone: +91 11 4111 1000 
E-mail: mseth@ifc.org 




Delhi, India, November 4, 2009—IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, is 
working with Jain Irrigation to launch a water footprint initiative that will 
allow the company to measure its environmental and sustainability benefits and 
identify ways to reduce its water consumption.  

The project will demonstrate effective management of natural resources, 
particularly the benefits to farmers of water conservation. 

Jain Irrigation has pioneered water conservation and the use of water-saving 
devices in India. It will be the first company in India to measure its water 
footprint. Water footprinting involves evaluating direct and indirect water 
usage in business activities, including those of suppliers. It also entails 
understanding linkages to local water sources and scarcity, and assessing 
impacts on community water resources and the environment with the goal of 
adopting conservation measures.  

“As a responsible corporate entity, we value IFC’s experience and partnership 
in launching water footprinting at our sites that will improve our 
understanding of the social and environmental impacts and help us mitigate 
these impacts,” said Dilip Kulkarni, President of the Agri Foods Division at 
Jain Irrigation, an Indian agro-processing and drip irrigation company. “This 
exercise will allow us to further our leadership in water efficiencies.”  

IFC’s support will help develop tools that can be replicated by other private 
sector companies in ascertaining their direct and their suppliers’ water 
exposure, minimizing water risks, improving water efficiencies, and limiting 
their water-related social and environmental impacts. 

“Activities in sectors such as agribusiness, power generation, mining, and 
semi-conducter manufacturing are particularly exposed to water- related risks,” 
said Rachel Kyte, IFC Vice President for Business Advisory Services, while 
visiting India. “Water footprinting can help companies understand water issues 
linked to their direct operations and assess their own and their suppliers’ 
water performance.” 

Jain Irrigation and IFC have a long-standing relationship. IFC has invested 
almost $60 million in Jain Irrigation. 

IFC is a founding member of the Water Footprint Network (www.waterfootprint.org
), which has developed a water footprint assessment methodology. The network 
brings together a range of organizations active in water footprinting. 

To learn more about IFC’s activities in South Asia, visit www.ifc.org/southasia
. 

About IFC 
IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, creates opportunity for people to escape 
poverty and improve their lives. We foster sustainable economic growth in 
developing countries by supporting private sector development, mobilizing 
private capital, and providing advisory and risk mitigation services to 
businesses and governments. Our new investments totaled $14.5 billion in fiscal 
2009, helping channel capital into developing countries during the financial 
crisis. For more information, visit www.ifc.org. 

About Jain Irrigation Systems Limited
Jain Irrigation is pioneer company in water creation, sourcing, storage 
structures, water distribution, and water conservation devices like micro 
irrigation systems. Jain also develops high-tech agri-inputs for farm 
productivity increases like high-quality planting materials, greenhouse 
cultivation, and improved cultivation practices such as ultra high-density 
plantations, sustainable agriculture, and agro-processing, providing end-to-end 
solutions to small holders. For more information, visit www.jains.com.