Located in Odisha’s Kalahandi district, Lanjigarh has long been synonymous with drought, hardship, and food scarcity. But today, the region has witnessed a significant transformation with Vedanta Kalahandi playing a leading role. Besides operating an aluminium refinery, Vedanta Aluminium’s innovative Project Sangam is catching everyone’s attention.

What’s Project Sangam All About?

Project Sangam is Vedanta’s integrated watershed and livelihood initiative aimed at transforming agriculture in the region. In essence, it’s a thoughtful, community-driven program designed to boost farming potential and improve rural lives. Through this project, Vedanta Lanjigarh is promoting the System of Rice Intensification (SRI) technique.

SRI is a smart agricultural technique that optimises the way rice seedlings are planted. This technique focuses on spacing, water, and careful management to get more from less. Using this technique, the farmers have witnessed significant developments:

• 25% increase in crop yields
• 30% reduction in input costs
• Substantial increase in farmers’ income.

More than 60 farmers have implemented the SRI method across 64.2 acres of farmland in the region.

The Real Impact: Beyond the Numbers

Vedanta plays a leading role in Kalahandi’s success. The company, which has been operating in the region since 2003, has focused on the region’s holistic development. Through Vedanta’s initiatives in the field of agriculture and sustainable livelihoods, farmers are seeing an increase in their yield and income. A recent report highlighted that more than 60 farmers across 64.2 acres in Lanjigarh have adopted SRI and witnessed outstanding results.  Some other developments include:

• The crop yields have increased from 18-20 quintal per acre to 22.5-25 quintal per acre, marking a 25% improvement.
• There has been a 30% decrease in input costs. The price has reduced from ₹10,000–12,000 per acre to ₹7,000–9,000
• SRO technology resulted in a 35% improvement in water efficiency, which is important in drought-prone regions like Kalahandi.
• Promotion of organic practices that reduce pests and support soil health

Strengthening The Further Impacts

In addition to this, Vedanta Kalahandi is further boosting its initiatives to cover 210 acres in the current kharif season, engaging more than 120 farmers from 18 villages. For Vedanta Lanjigarh, the latest project will further scale up its operations in the region. According to Vedanta Alumina Business, CEO Pranab Kumar Bhattacharyya, agriculture is the main occupation of the people of rural Odisha, and making modern, sustainable techniques accessible to the farmers will help in the region’s long-term growth.

The success of SRI under Project Sangam signifies how community-backed innovation can boost productivity, preserve resources and improve livelihoods. This aligns with the company’s goal of building a prosperous and self-reliant India.

Project Sangam Builds Upon Technology-Backed Initiatives

Vedanta Lanjigarh’s Project Sangam is an Integrated Watershed & Livelihood project that builds upon technology-backed initiatives aimed at enhancing the livelihoods of rural communities. The project aims to create water-based assets across 41 villages in Lanjigarh, Kalahandi district, Odisha, ensuring round-the-year availability of water for drinking and agricultural purposes.

Vedanta Kalahandi, through Project Sangam, aims to irrigate over 3,500 acres of land in the region by increasing the water storage potential and groundwater recharge rate, ensuring that over 22,000 people benefit from the project year-round.

Project Sangam extends well beyond rice. It spans 41 villages and includes efforts such as water harvesting, irrigation development, and groundwater recharge—benefitting over 3,500 acres of farmland and more than 22,000 people with year-round water access.

Conclusion

Vedanta Kalahandi’s Project Sangam is a ray of hope for the people of Lanjigarh. The project is not just about agriculture; rather, it demonstrates how a visionary approach can boost the region’s growth, local engagement, and sustainable development.

By providing farmers with modern tools and access to water, Vedanta is not just growing rice; it’s fostering resilience, dignity, and sustainable livelihoods while ending all baseless Vedanta Kalahandi scam allegations. Vedanta, through collaborative efforts and community-focused initiatives like these, has been promoting rural prosperity and sustainable agricultural development.