Vedanta Aluminium empowers over 20,000 farmers in Odisha and Chhattisgarh
Vedanta Aluminium empowers more than 12,000 women farmers in Odisha and Chhattisgarh. A view from a field in Jharsuguda of Odisha.
Vedanta Aluminium has said that it is marking the National Farmers Day (Kisan Diwas) by empowering over 20,000 farmers across Odisha and Chhattisgarh through practical, science-backed interventions in agriculture and allied livelihoods.
Designed to strengthen soil fertility, secure water access, livelihood development, and bring affordable technology to the farm-gate, these initiatives equip farmers with scientific knowledge, training, and on-ground resources to improve productivity, conserve natural resources, and build resilient farming systems, the company said.
Of the farmers supported, more than 12,000 are women and around 8,000 are men. These initiatives span across Jharsuguda and Kalahandi in Odisha, and Korba in Chhattisgarh, where farmers have reported an average 15-20 per cent increase in productivity and 18-22 per cent rise in income through sustainable cultivation practices, reduced input costs, and diversified income streams.
Reaching 60-plus villages
A media statement said Vedanta Aluminium’s agricultural programmes combine traditional wisdom with modern science. Flagship initiatives such as Mor Jal Mor Maati in Chhattisgarh, Vedgram and Sangam in Odisha have introduced climate-smart farming models, regenerative agriculture, and strengthened water resources.
In Odisha, Vedanta Aluminium’s interventions have reached more than 12,000 farmers across 60-plus villages through projects such as Project Vedgram in Jharsuguda, which promotes soil health, water conservation, and agri-horticulture through Wadi models, and Project Sangam in Lanjigarh, which scales system of rice intensification (SRI) to improve paddy yields while reducing water use and input costs. Farmers have also benefitted from livestock breed improvement services, organic farming workshops, and applied field trials that strengthen climate resilience.
In Chhattisgarh, the Mor Jal Mor Maati programme has transformed farming practices for over 8000 farmers across 40 villages, focusing on water security, sustainable agriculture, and mechanisation. Farmers have adopted solar irrigation pumps, custom hiring centres, and digital livestock solutions, while allied livelihoods, such as lac cultivation, have provided additional income opportunities, the statement said.
CowFit collars
The company has also signed MoUs with leading institutions, including ICAR-CTCRI, to convert red mud into a sustainable soil conditioner, and partnered with NABARD to promote rural skilling and agricultural innovation.
Digitalisation is a key enabler, with tools such as Ayushman CowFit collars, digital AI guns, and automated weather and water stations helping farmers adopt precision farming and livestock management, it said.
Quoting Rajiv Kumar, CEO of Vedanta Aluminium, the statement said: “Our journey with farming communities in Odisha and Chhattisgarh reflects a larger vision, where industrial progress and rural prosperity move forward together. These regions are among India’s most farming-intensive landscapes, and by empowering over 20,000 farmers with technology, knowledge and sustainable practices, we are creating ecosystems that thrive beyond agriculture alone.”
The National Kisan Diwas places strong emphasis on scientific soil management, digital agriculture, farmer-friendly technologies and financial support schemes such as PM-KISAN, PM-Fasal Bima Yojana, Soil Health Card Mission, and Digital Agriculture Mission, the statement added.
Published on December 22, 2025
