Yara India Launches the Safety Campaign ‘I Am a Safety Hero’ Ahead of World Day for Safety and Health at Work

Yara India successfully launches the inaugural edition of its safety campaign, ‘I Am a Safety Hero’, in partnership with the Punjab Road Safety and Traffic Research Centre (PRSTRC) with Punjab Police (Traffic & Road Safety Wing). Taking place in Khanna Mandi, Punjab, the campaign serves as a lead-up to the World Day for Safety and Health at Work (April 28). The three-day awareness initiative focuses on workplace and road safety, with a special emphasis on addressing the alarming rise in road accidents involving agricultural vehicles in the region. 

As part of the campaign, in collaboration with local stakeholders and community leaders, farmers, drivers, and mandi workers will be actively engaged through interactive safety sessions, live road safety demonstrations, and the distribution of reflective safety gear. The participants will receive practical guidance on operating agricultural vehicles safely, while highlighting the importance of chemical handling protocols, and maintaining personal health and well-being in agricultural environments. 

According to recent data, Punjab reported a substantial number of road accidents involving agricultural vehicles, including tractor-trolleys. From 2017 to 2022, a total of 2,048 road accidents involving tractor-trolleys were recorded, resulting in the loss of 1,569 lives—mostly farmers. This accounts for approximately 5–6% of the total road accident fatalities in Punjab during the period. This made the market a strategic choice for the campaign. 

Reinforcing this mission, Mr. Sanjiv Kanwar, Managing Director at Yara South Asia, stated: “Punjab’s farmers are the backbone of our agricultural economy. Through ‘I am a safety hero,’ we wanted to bring safety awareness directly to the heart of the community, empowering them with the tools and knowledge to protect themselves and those around them.”  

The campaign reflects Yara’s commitment to its global Health, Environment, Safety, Security, and Quality (HESQ) Policy, built on the principle of zero harm to people and the planet. Yara's HESQ framework not only addresses safety in the workplace but also promotes sustainability, climate action, chemical stewardship, and mental health. 

Bringing these values to life, the initiative focuses on key themes critical to agricultural communities: 

• Safe driving and transport practices 
• Chemical safety and handling protocols 
• Health and well-being in agricultural work 
• Environmental sustainability and pollution prevention 

Looking ahead, and encouraged by the engagement in Khanna Mandi, Yara India plans to scale the ‘I am a hero’ campaign to other high-risk agricultural districts in the coming months. The long-term vision is aimed at building a nationwide movement rooted in safety, awareness, and collective responsibility. 

About Yara India  

Yara is the world’s leading fertiliser company and provider of environmental solutions. Yara India is a wholly owned subsidiary of Yara International ASA. The company set up its operations in 2011, in Maharashtra, focusing on specialty products. In 2018, Yara India acquired Tata Chemicals 1.20 million MT urea facility in Babrala, making it India’s first and highest stand-alone foreign direct investment in the fertiliser sector. The company has established a strong footprint, forging deep relationships with Indian farming community through its farmer centric approach enhancing productivity with new generation crop nutrition offerings. 

Yara works closely with farmers to promote the use of balanced crop nutrition solutions through Yara branded retail outlets called Yara Crop Nutrition Centre (YCNC) and the FPO initiative resulting in enhanced yield and quality of output. The YCNCs have benefited over 1.2 million farmers across 1500 outlets in 17 states and 1 Union territory of India.  Yara India digitally connects with 5.5 million farmers across India and provide service to 218 FPOs touching over 150 thousand farmers. In 2019, Yara India Technology Centre (Yara ITC) was established to address Yara's technology demands and drive agile transformation. Being one of three Global Digital Hubs, Yara ITC plays a pivotal role in developing digital solutions.