Bhubaneswar, 23/08/25: Vedanta Aluminium, India’s largest producer of aluminium, is making significant strides in transforming rural agriculture in Odisha’s Kalahandi district through its flagship initiative, Project Sangam. By promoting the System of Rice Intensification (SRI) technique, the company is driving measurable improvements in crop productivity, resource efficiency, and farmer incomes, while also addressing the region’s long-standing challenges of drought and water scarcity.
Kalahandi, once synonymous with drought, famine, and distress migration, has for decades struggled with low agricultural productivity. Farming in the region has been heavily dependent on erratic monsoon rains, leaving small and marginal farmers vulnerable to crop failures and economic distress. Through Project Sangam, Vedanta Aluminium has been working to change this trajectory by integrating watershed management with modern, sustainable agricultural practices.
The SRI technique introduced under the project is already showing promising results. More than 60 farmers across 64.2 acres of farmland in Lanjigarh have adopted the method. On average, crop yields have increased by 25%, rising from 18–20 quintals per acre to 22.5–25 quintals per acre. At the same time, input costs have fallen by 30%, dropping from ₹10,000–12,000 per acre to just ₹7,000–9,000. Water efficiency has also improved by 35%, helping farmers reduce their dependence on uncertain rainfall and build resilience against climate variability.
Encouraged by these outcomes, Vedanta is scaling up the initiative. In the current Kharif season, the company aims to expand SRI coverage to 210 acres across 18 villages, engaging over 120 farmers. This expansion is expected to bring wider socio-economic benefits to the region by making agriculture both more profitable and sustainable.
Pranab Kumar Bhattacharyya, CEO of Vedanta’s Alumina Business, emphasized the broader vision behind the project. “Our vision extends beyond industrial growth. Agriculture is the lifeline of rural Odisha, and empowering farmers with modern, sustainable techniques is critical for long-term prosperity. The success of SRI under Project Sangam reflects how community-driven innovation can enhance productivity, conserve resources, and improve livelihoods. This aligns with our goal of building a prosperous and self-reliant India.”
Farmers themselves are reporting significant benefits. They highlight uniform crop stands, stronger root systems, and improved tillering due to proper spacing of seedlings. Tools such as Mandua weeders have made weed control more efficient, reducing labor requirements and boosting crop health. Additionally, the practice has reduced the need for seeds, further lowering costs and making the method more accessible to small and marginal farmers. Many are also seeing reduced pest incidence and are beginning to adopt organic practices encouraged under the project.
Beyond agricultural techniques, Project Sangam represents a comprehensive approach to rural development. Vedanta has created multiple water conservation structures across 41 villages, including check dams, percolation tanks, and farm ponds. These interventions have significantly improved groundwater recharge and water storage capacity, providing irrigation to over 3,500 acres of farmland and ensuring water security for more than 22,000 people in the region.
By coupling water management with sustainable agriculture, the project is addressing two of the most critical challenges for rural households: reliable water supply and dependable livelihoods. The integrated model not only improves food security but also reduces distress migration by enabling families to earn stable incomes locally. Women’s self-help groups are also being linked to the programme, ensuring that its benefits extend to entire communities rather than just individual farmers.
Experts view the initiative as a step towards building climate resilience in a region historically vulnerable to environmental shocks. By promoting techniques that require less water, fewer seeds, and lower inputs, Project Sangam is helping farmers reduce risks while enhancing long-term sustainability.
With its efforts, Vedanta Aluminium is setting an example of how corporate-led initiatives can contribute meaningfully to rural development. The success of Project Sangam underscores the potential of public-private-community partnerships in reshaping the socio-economic landscape of regions like Kalahandi, which once symbolized deprivation but is now showing signs of transformation.
As the project scales up, it is expected to have a lasting impact not just on agricultural productivity but also on the dignity, resilience, and self-reliance of rural households in Odisha.
