CSR Dashboard

Tag: SustainableAgriculture

  • ACC’s transforming water conservation in Dhakori village in Maharashtra

    ACC’s transforming water conservation in Dhakori village in Maharashtra

    ACC, part of the Adani Portfolio, and the Adani Foundation are advancing climate resilience through transforming water conservation efforts in rural Maharashtra.

    In Dhakori village, Wani block, Yavatmal district, the companies addressed chronic water scarcity by building an upstream cement nala bund under the 2024-25 Climate Action Water Conservation initiative.

    Despite heavy monsoons, runoff previously left fields dry by November, restricting farmers to one crop annually.

    The new structure stores nearly 48,000 litres of water, recharges borewells and provides year-round supply to 96 acres of farmland.

    Around 35 farmers now grow multiple crops, with incomes rising by about Rs 18,000 per acre.

    The project has also secured household and livestock water supplies, fostering community stability.

    By revitalising resources in Dhakori, ACC and the Adani Foundation demonstrate how targeted, community-led initiatives can achieve sustainable rural development amid climate challenges.

    For more on ACC’s initiatives, visit ACC Limited. Details on Adani Foundation’s work available at Adani Foundation.

  • From struggle to success: How Samadhan Project changed Rajasthan farmers’ lives

    From struggle to success: How Samadhan Project changed Rajasthan farmers’ lives

    In the arid landscapes of Rajasthan, where traditional farming often meant meager earnings and uncertainty, Hindustan Zinc’s Samadhan Project is sparking a quiet revolution. This flagship CSR initiative has reached nearly 1.4 lakh farmers, helping them generate over Rs 192 crore in diversified income in just the past year through modern, sustainable practices.

    Take Shankar Lal Dangi from Chota Guda village near Udaipur. Like many, his family once scraped by on Rs 6,000–7,000 a month, limited by old-fashioned methods, scarce water, and unreliable markets. Through the Samadhan Project, Shankar embraced drip irrigation, scientific cropping, and joined a Farmer Producer Organization for better prices, according to the company statement.

    Today, his yields are higher, milk production has doubled, and his income has soared—bringing stability, pride, and a brighter future for his family.

    Close-up of raw milk being poured into container with dairy cows in background


    Similar hope blooms in Sindesar Kalan village, Rajsamand district, with Dinesh Puri Goswami. He shifted from low-yield crops to diverse vegetables and upgraded dairy practices.

    Using raised-bed nurseries and better animal care, Dinesh earned Rs 78,000 from vegetables in four months, plus Rs 12,000 monthly from milk. “It’s reduced our risks and given us steady income,” he shares.

    Women are at the heart of this change too. Gendi Bai from Ganeshpura village turned one bigha of land into a thriving vegetable plot with drip irrigation and mulching, earning ₹90,000 and gaining recognition as a progressive farmer.

    From leading Farmer Interest Groups to running dairy enterprises, women under Samadhan are driving household prosperity and community strength.

    The project’s multi-pronged approach—crop diversification, precision irrigation, livestock improvement, microenterprises, and farmer-owned institutions—has delivered real results: ₹90 crore in livestock assets, 280 lakh litres of milk worth ₹88 crore, and revenues from farmer-led ventures.

    With 510 Farmer Interest Groups and five Producer Organizations involving over 9,300 shareholders, Samadhan covers 2,449 hectares in climate-smart practices like trellis farming and bio-fortified crops. It’s not just boosting incomes; it’s building resilience, nutrition, and agri-entrepreneurship.

    As a Vedanta Group company, Hindustan Zinc extends its impact beyond farming through education, healthcare, and more, touching 23 lakh lives across 2,300 villages—aligning with India’s vision of inclusive growth.

    These stories of Shankar, Dinesh, Gendi Bai, and thousands more show how the Samadhan Project is turning subsistence into sustainability, one farm at a time.

  • Empowering Climate-Resilient Farming: ACC’s Solar Boost

    Empowering Climate-Resilient Farming: ACC’s Solar Boost

    In the hot, dry lands of Chhatatand village in rural India, farmers like Bhagywati Devi used to worry every day about rain. No rain meant no crops, no food, and no money. But now, things are different. ACC, a big company in cement and building materials from the Adani group, is working with the Adani Foundation to bring climate-resilient farming to places like this. They use smart ways to save water and grow food better, even when weather is bad. This helps farmers fight low crop yields and crazy rain patterns through climate-resilient farming practices.

    Bhagywati is 47 years old. She has three kids and a husband who works hard as a daily labourer. Life was tough. School fees piled up, and food was always short. “We waited for rain like kids wait for sweets,” she says. When it didn’t come, her fields turned brown. She had to use diesel pumps for water, but they cost too much money and made dirty smoke. Crops failed often, and her family went hungry.

    In 2024, everything changed for Bhagywati. She was one of 20 farmers picked for the Adani Foundation’s solar irrigation project. ACC helped make it happen. Now, a solar pump sits in her small half-acre field. It uses free sunshine to pull water from the ground and send it straight to her plants. No more waiting for rain or paying for diesel. “It’s like a magic machine from the sky,” Bhagywati laughs, her face lighting up.

    With steady water, her crops grow strong all year. She plants rice and veggies without fear. Yields doubled fast. Before, she earned just enough to scrape by. Now, she makes an extra Rs 6,000 each month. That’s big money here—it pays for better food, fixes the house roof, and saves for her youngest girl’s college dreams. “I used to work sun-up to sun-down just to eat. Now, I have time for my family,” she says. She cooks hot meals, helps kids with homework, and chats with neighbors. Her tired hands still work the soil, but her heart feels lighter.

    ACC didn’t stop at water. They taught her trellis farming too. It’s a simple trick: Grow climbing veggies like beans and gourds on tall frames made from sticks or wire. This saves space on her tiny plot. Plants grow up, not out, so she fits more in. “My land was too small before. Now, veggies climb high like happy kids on a swing,” she jokes. Extra harvest means more to sell at the market. Buyers pay good prices for fresh, clean produce. Her income grew again, and people in the village notice. Once, folks saw her only as a wife helping out. Now, they call her for advice on farming. She speaks up in meetings, proud and strong.

    Bhagywati’s story shows the power of climate-resilient farming. ACC brings easy tools like solar pumps and trellis setups to far-off villages. These aren’t fancy gadgets—they’re helpers that fit real life. Farmers learn to use less water, grow more food, and earn steady cash through climate-resilient farming methods. No more chasing rain or burning fuel. Instead, they build safe futures.

    Take Bhagywati’s family: The extra money bought new clothes for festivals. Her middle son dreams of being a teacher, not a labourer. The little girl studies without worry. “ACC gave us more than tools. They gave us hope,” Bhagywati says, watching her kids play under the green vines.

    Across India, thousands like her face the same fights—hotter days, less rain from climate change. But with ACC and Adani Foundation’s work, rural spots like Chhatatand are turning green again. One farmer, one field at a time, they’re proving small changes make big waves. Solar power waters the land. Smart farming lifts spirits. And stories like Bhagywati’s spread, inspiring others to try climate-resilient farming.

    In the end, it’s not just about crops. It’s about families thriving, kids learning, and villages growing strong. ACC builds more than cement—they build lives that last, rain or shine.

  • Coffee Board Seeks Feedback on Sustainability Scheme to Boost Recognition for Indian Producers

    Coffee Board Seeks Feedback on Sustainability Scheme to Boost Recognition for Indian Producers

    The Coffee Board has invited public consultation on its draft sustainability certification framework, aiming to address a critical gap in recognition for India’s coffee sector despite the country’s adherence to sustainable practices across over 400,000 small and marginal holdings.

    The Indian Coffee Board Sustainability Certification Scheme (INDICOFS), developed by a Core Technical Committee comprising domain experts, introduces a voluntary three-tier compliance system designed to progressively align Indian coffee producers with international sustainability standards.

    Bridging the Recognition Gap

    The sector is integral to the livelihoods of approximately two million individuals, with farms situated in high biodiversity regions, notably the Western and Eastern Ghats. These regions provide essential ecosystem services and are home to numerous major rivers, underscoring the critical role that coffee cultivation plays in environmental stewardship.

    Despite adherence to sustainable agricultural practices integrating social, economic and environmental dimensions, the Indian coffee industry has not achieved recognition commensurate with its quality and production methods. While global demand for sustainably certified coffee has increased, only approximately 15% of India’s total coffee output is currently certified under sustainable certification criteria.

    INDICOFS Framework

    In response to the need for a coherent sustainability framework, the Coffee Board has developed INDICOFS—a set of sustainability standards tailored to the Indian context. The standards acknowledge best practices implemented by Indian coffee farms and facilitate a structured approach for continual improvement, ensuring sustainability across the coffee value chain.

    The scheme covers two phases. The first phase addresses “Sustainability Standards for Indian Coffee Plantations,” while the second phase focuses on “Chain of Custody Standards.” The framework encompasses sustainability standards, inspection procedures and certification protocols.

    The certification system defines three compliance levels:

    Level 1 (Basic/Self-Assessment): Provides foundational requirements for growers to evaluate practices and identify improvement opportunities, overseen by Coffee Board inspections

    Level 2 (Aspiring/Auditing): Outlines criteria for third-party verification, ensuring compliance and facilitating progression beyond basic practices

    Level 3 (Benchmarked Best Practices): Delineates advanced sustainability benchmarks assessed by recognized auditing bodies, signifying alignment with international standards

    Implementation and Oversight

    Implementation of INDICOFS will be managed by the Central Coffee Research Institute (CCRI), functioning under the administrative control of Coffee Board of India, recognized as one of the oldest public coffee research institutions globally.

    The standards are designed to address the evolving landscape of coffee production, including critical issues related to trade, environmental sustainability and preservation of traditional farming practices. A key innovation is INDICOFS’ holistic integration of responsible production methodologies with practices that enhance climate adaptation and minimize ecological footprints.

    The standard addresses critical Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) aspects essential for sustainable coffee farming and incorporates general disclosure requirements aimed at providing stakeholders with transparent, relevant and comparable information about production operations.

    Public Consultation Invited

    The Coffee Board has posted the draft INDICOFS scheme along with an overview note on its website for wider consultation. Stakeholders and members of the public are invited to review the documents and share their views, comments and suggestions.

    Comments must be submitted in the prescribed format (Annexure-I) by email to dirresh@gmail.com with a copy to drccri2022@gmail.com on or before October 24, 2025.

    “The Coffee Board values your feedback and cooperation in this important national initiative to position Indian Coffee as a global benchmark for sustainability,” the board stated.

    By adopting this standard, coffee producers can demonstrate compliance with recognized sustainability benchmarks, enhance their marketability and contribute to the global movement toward sustainable agricultural practices. The initiative is expected to foster collaboration among coffee producers and stakeholders to promote a resilient and sustainable Indian coffee industry while improving the long-term viability of coffee farming and quality of life for communities involved in the supply chain.