Vedanta Aluminium Reaffirms Commitment to Empower Over 20,000 Farmers with Technology and Sustainable Practices on National Farmers Day

Marking National Farmers Day (Kisan Diwas), Vedanta Aluminium, India’s largest aluminium producer, reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening rural livelihoods by empowering over 20,000 farmers across Odisha and Chhattisgarh through technology-enabled, science-backed and sustainable agricultural interventions.

The company’s initiatives focus on improving soil fertility, enhancing water security, promoting livelihood diversification and enabling affordable access to modern farm technologies. These efforts aim to equip farmers with practical knowledge, training and on-ground resources to improve productivity, reduce input costs and build climate-resilient farming systems.

Of the farmers supported, over 12,000 are women and more than 8,000 are men, reflecting Vedanta Aluminium’s strong emphasis on inclusive and gender-responsive development. Spanning Jharsuguda and Kalahandi districts in Odisha and Korba district in Chhattisgarh, the programmes have helped farmers achieve an average 15–20 per cent increase in productivity and an 18–22 per cent rise in income through sustainable cultivation practices and diversified income streams.

Vedanta Aluminium’s agricultural interventions blend traditional knowledge with modern science. Flagship initiatives such as Mor Jal Mor Maati in Chhattisgarh, and VedGram and Sangam in Odisha, promote climate-smart and regenerative agriculture, water resource strengthening and improved farm management practices. The company has also signed Memoranda of Understanding with premier institutions, including ICAR–Central Tuber Crops Research Institute (ICAR-CTCRI), to explore the conversion of red mud into a sustainable soil conditioner, and partnered with NABARD to advance rural skilling and agricultural innovation.

Digitalisation remains a key enabler across these programmes. Farmers are being supported through tools such as Ayushman CowFit collars for livestock health monitoring, Digital AI Guns for breed improvement, and Automated Weather and Water Stations that enable precision farming and timely, data-driven decision-making.

Rajiv Kumar, CEO, Vedanta Aluminium, said, “Our journey with farming communities in Odisha and Chhattisgarh reflects a larger vision where industrial progress and rural prosperity advance together. These regions are among India’s most agriculture-intensive landscapes, and by empowering over 20,000 farmers with technology, knowledge and sustainable practices, we are helping create resilient rural ecosystems that thrive well beyond agriculture alone.”

In Odisha, Vedanta Aluminium’s interventions have reached over 12,000 farmers across more than 60 villages. Project VedGram in Jharsuguda promotes soil health management, water conservation and agri-horticulture through WADI models, while Project Sangam in Lanjigarh scales the System of Rice Intensification (SRI) to enhance paddy yields with reduced water use and lower input costs. Farmers have also benefited from organic farming workshops, livestock breed improvement services and applied field trials aimed at strengthening climate resilience.

In Chhattisgarh, the Mor Jal Mor Maati programme has positively impacted over 8,000 farmers across 40 villages by focusing on water security, sustainable agriculture and farm mechanisation. The initiative has facilitated the adoption of solar irrigation pumps, custom hiring centres and digital livestock solutions, while allied livelihood activities such as lac cultivation have opened additional income avenues for rural households.

The Government of India observes Kisan Diwas with a strong emphasis on scientific soil management, digital agriculture and farmer-friendly technologies, supported by schemes such as PM-KISAN, PM Fasal Bima Yojana, the Soil Health Card Mission and the Digital Agriculture Mission. Vedanta Aluminium’s work in soil restoration, precision farming, smart weather-linked advisories, livestock strengthening and horticulture development complements this national vision by enabling farmers not only to access but also effectively adopt modern and sustainable agricultural practices.

Aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals—SDG 1 (No Poverty), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure) and SDG 13 (Climate Action)—the company is also advancing circular economy solutions, including crop-residue utilisation, biofuel pilots and renewable energy integration. These initiatives aim to create additional revenue streams for farmers while reducing environmental impact.

Vedanta Aluminium’s agricultural programmes form a core component of its broader social impact agenda, which spans education, healthcare, skill development and women’s empowerment. Collectively, the company’s community development initiatives have touched the lives of more than seven lakh beneficiaries across Odisha and Chhattisgarh. As India moves towards a future of industrial growth combined with rural prosperity, Vedanta Aluminium continues to work closely with communities to ensure development remains inclusive, equitable and sustainable.