Agriculture / Vedanta Aluminium Promotes Farm Mechanisation in Odisha Villages Under Project SANGAM

Bhubaneswar, Oct 16: Vedanta Aluminium has distributed 338 electric sprayers among farmers across 33 villages in Odisha's Kalahandi district under its flagship CSR initiative, Project SANGAM, officials said on Friday.

Implemented in partnership with AFPRO (Action for Food Production), the initiative seeks to advance farm mechanisation by providing modern agricultural equipment that enhances productivity, improves resource efficiency, and reduces the physical burden on farmers.

The dual-mode sprayers, equipped with both battery-operated and manual functions, replace traditional hand-operated knapsack sprayers that require continuous pumping. By enabling faster and more uniform spraying, the equipment helps farmers save time while improving the effectiveness of crop protection measures.

Traditionally, spraying one acre of farmland requires 4-6 hours of manual pumping. With the introduction of the electric sprayers, farmers can now complete the same task in just 2-3 hours, resulting in nearly 40-50% reduction in spraying time. The steady-pressure mechanism also ensures better droplet distribution and crop canopy penetration, enabling more effective crop protection with lower wastage of water and pesticides.

Speaking on the initiative, Pranab Kumar Bhattacharyya, CEO, Alumina Business, Vedanta Aluminium, said, "At Vedanta Aluminium, we are committed to strengthening rural livelihoods through sustainable and impactful interventions. By providing farmers with access to modern agricultural equipment, we are helping improve farm productivity, optimise resource use, and reduce physical drudgery. Through Project SANGAM, we are empowering farming communities with solutions that strengthen productivity and build long-term resilience.”

Speaking about the initiative, a beneficiary farmer from Balabhadrapur village said, “Manual spraying takes a lot of time and effort, especially during peak farming seasons. This sprayer will help us finish the work much faster and with less physical strain. I thank Vedanta Lanjigarh and AFPRO for this valuable support, which is helping farmers adopt modern technology and move towards more efficient and sustainable agriculture.”

Designed for use across diverse cropping systems, including field crops, vegetables, orchards, and plantations, the sprayers offer a practical and reliable solution for farmers. The battery-supported operation, coupled with a manual backup mode, ensures uninterrupted use during peak farming seasons, contributing to greater operational convenience and improved farm efficiency.

Since its inception, Project SANGAM, a key CSR initiative, has positively impacted over 9,000 beneficiaries across 41 villages by strengthening water security, promoting climate-resilient agriculture, and creating sustainable livelihood opportunities. The initiative has enabled irrigation across 1,700 acres, enhanced agricultural productivity, supported women-led enterprises, and advanced rural prosperity through community-driven development interventions.