Over 120 farmers from Siriapali, Keldamal, Gudigaon and Amati benefited. In one month, the farmers earned a total revenue of Rs. 3.60 lakhs
Looking at the disruption to lives and livelihoods of farmers post outbreak of COVID-19 in India, Vedanta launched ‘Farm-to-Shop’, an initiative to help farmers in the periphery of its Jharsuguda (Odisha) plant to continue earning their livelihood during these uncertain times.
Created under the aegis of ‘Jeevika Samridhhi’, a farm-based sustainable livelihood project being run by Vedanta in several peripheral villages such as Siriapali, Gudigaon and Keldamal villages, Farm-to-Shop enables farmers to sell their produce directly to employees and families residing in the company’s township.
CN Singh, CEO – Vedanta Ltd., Jharsuguda said, “As India’s largest producers of primary aluminium, we have always championed the cause of self-sufficiency. Vedanta endeavors to enable our communities to be self-reliant and our Farm-to-Shop project is one such example. The initiative not only gives our employees and families their daily essentials, but ensures continuance of livelihood for many small and marginal farmers from our periphery.”
Rolled out in early April, the initiative benefits over 120 farmers from Siriapali, Keldamal, Gudigaon and Amati (Kolabira block) who are harvesting their rabi crops like potatoes, tomatoes, chilli, watermelon, sweet corn, etc. Within one month, the project has helped sales of 10,600+ kgs of vegetables, earning the farmers a revenue of nearly INR 3.58 lakhs, with a net profit of INR 1.5 lakhs.
Vedanta’s Jeevika Samridhhi project is a sustainable livelihood project focused on land and water management. It aims to introduce small and marginal farmers in the company’s peripheral community to better, more efficient and sustainable methods of farming, thereby increasing the quantum of produce and sustained return on investments.
The project’s relevance is based on the need to augment irrigation infrastructure, promote advanced agriculture, application of bio-fertiliser and pesticides, and make farming a remunerative profession. In the first phase, more than a hundred farming households of Siriapali village were benefited through the project, with an increase in irrigation potential of the village by 21% and household income of beneficiaries by 20-25% in just one year. In its second phase, the project covers 200 farming households across three villages for a duration of two years.
Vedanta is India’s largest producer of primary aluminium, operating a world-class aluminium smelter in Jharsuguda with an installed smelting capacity of 1.6 MTPA. It is the only Indian smelter in the global ‘1 Million Tonne Club’ primary aluminium producers and exporters.
The company currently produces more than a third of India’s primary aluminium backed by world class assets, new-age technology and innovative practices and a robust sustainable development framework. With a strong focus on safety, the company is committed to delivering sustainable and robust growth, which creates value for its shareholders and stakeholders.
