EDITOR’S SYNOPSIS
· Ambuja Cements’ CSR teams in both, Beawar and Nagaur districts have helped over 250 farmers adopt micro-irrigation with farm pond initiatives, conserving 5-8 lakh litres of water annually.
· Santosh Devi transformed her farm by implementing micro-irrigation on 40 bighas land, constructing an 8 lakh-litre rainwater harvesting farm pond, and reducing water usage by 50-60%, tripling her income.
· The initiative strengthens water conservation and farm productivity, reaffirming Ambuja Cements’ commitment to sustainable rural development
Ambuja Cements, the cement and building material company of the diversified Adani Portfolio, is transforming agriculture in western Rajasthan’s water-scarce and drought-prone regions through its CSR arm by promoting micro-irrigation with farm pond initiatives. By enabling efficient water use, the initiative has helped over 250 farmers across Nagaur and Beawar districts optimise irrigation, improve yields, and conserve lakhs of litres of water annually.
Once a devoted housewife, Santosh Devi, from Sevariya village, near Rabriyawas, Beawar evolved into a forward-thinking farmer revolutionising the agricultural achievement in her neighbourhood. She adopted the integrated agricultural methods after attending training sessions organised by the Ambuja CSR team. She implemented micro-irrigation across her 40 bighas, built a farm pond with an 8 lakh-litre storage capacity, and invested in a polyhouse.
This led her to go from a single-cropping system to a more fruitful double-cropping system, resulting in a 50-60% reduction in water usage while tripling her household income. Inspired by her success, many farmers in the region are now adopting similar water-saving techniques, ensuring long-term agricultural sustainability.
Her polyhouse for cash crop gave her an additional agricultural income which increased her output even further. This success has led her to setup another polyhouse in 1 hectare farm area, resulting in a further increase in income, changing her family’s lifestyle as well as health conditions.
Ambuja Cements and its CSR team are empowering rural communities with efficient water management, increased farm productivity, and sustainable livelihoods by promoting smart irrigation solutions. The Company remains committed to expanding water conservation efforts, helping farmers secure their future against climate uncertainties.