EDITOR’S SYNOPSIS
- Ambuja Cements addresses water scarcity in Farakka, enabling year-round farming through the River Lift Irrigation system.
- Farmers achieve higher incomes through the cultivation of Winter Dawn strawberries, supported by training and resources from Ambuja Cements.
- Over 40 farmers are now part of this initiative, reporting significant improvements in agricultural productivity and earnings.
Bengaluru, 27 February 2025: Ambuja Cements, the cement and building material company of the diversified Adani Portfolio, is transforming the agricultural landscape in Farakka, Murshidabad district through innovative CSR initiatives. By addressing irrigation challenges and introducing high-value crops such as strawberry, the company has empowered local farmers to improve productivity and achieve sustainable growth.
To help tackle water scarcity, Ambuja Cements’ CSR arm introduced the River Lift Irrigation (RLI) system, enabling farmers to draw water from nearby rivers. This initiative has allowed farmers to grow multiple crops throughout the year, reducing their dependency on erratic monsoon rains. The availability of consistent water supply has opened avenues for cultivating high-value crops, boosting the region’s agricultural output.
Farmers have been trained to cultivate Winter Dawn strawberries, a high-value crop with immense market potential. With support from Ambuja Cements, farmers like Tetra Roy, who previously grew paddy and potatoes, earned Rs. 42,000 from just 0.03 acres of strawberries, tripling his income in a year. Women farmers, such as Srimati Mandal, have also achieved significant income growth and are now planning future investments. Today, over 40 farmers in Farakka are part of this initiative, earning up to Rs. 1.5 lakh from just 0.33 acres of land.
Ambuja Cements continues to support these farmers with training, sapling production, and plans to establish local nurseries to reduce costs and wastage. By empowering the farming community in Farakka, the company reaffirms its commitment to driving agricultural innovation and creating sustainable livelihoods.
