Project SANGAM distributes 338 electric sprayers to farmers

By Jharana Jena

Bhubaneswar, Oct. 17, 2026: Vedanta Aluminium has distributed 338 electric sprayers to farmers across 33 villages in Kalahandi district under Project SANGAM, its corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative aimed at promoting agricultural mechanisation and strengthening rural livelihoods.

Implemented in partnership with AFPRO (Action for Food Production), the initiative seeks to enhance farm productivity, optimise resource use and reduce the physical labour involved in agricultural operations.

The dual-mode sprayers, equipped with battery-operated and manual functions, offer an alternative to conventional hand-operated knapsack sprayers that require continuous pumping. The equipment enables faster, more uniform spraying, improving crop protection while reducing water and pesticide wastage.

Traditionally, spraying one acre of farmland takes four to six hours using manual equipment. With the electric sprayers, farmers can complete the task in two to three hours, reducing spraying time by nearly 40-50 per cent. The steady-pressure mechanism also improves droplet distribution and penetration into crop canopies, enhancing the effectiveness of crop protection measures.

Speaking on the initiative, Pranab Kumar Bhattacharyya, CEO, Alumina Business, Vedanta Aluminium, said the company was committed to strengthening rural livelihoods through sustainable 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,” he said.

A beneficiary farmer from Balabhadrapur village said the equipment would save time and effort, particularly during peak farming seasons, while helping farmers adopt modern and efficient agricultural practices.

Suitable for field crops, vegetables, orchards and plantations, the sprayers provide operational flexibility through battery power and manual backup.

Since its inception, Project SANGAM has benefited more than 9,000 people across 41 villages through interventions in water security, climate-resilient agriculture and sustainable livelihoods. The initiative has enabled irrigation across 1,700 acres, improved agricultural productivity, supported women-led enterprises and promoted community-driven rural development.