Team News Riveting
Balconagar, July 15
Bharat Aluminium Company Limited (BALCO), India’s iconic aluminium producer and part of Vedanta Aluminium, has taken a major step towards supporting smart and sustainable agriculture with the installation of an Automated Weather and Water Station (AWWS) under its flagship CSR project, Mor Jal Mor Maati.
In its pilot phase, the station currently covers more than 200 farmers across select villages in a five-kilometre radius, with plans to scale up and reach more farmers in the region.
Aligned with the Government of India’s Digital India initiative, the intervention reflects BALCO’s commitment to expanding digital infrastructure at the grassroots level. Digital India envisions not only connectivity and digital access but also last-mile empowerment, where even remote farmers benefit from precision tools and real-time advisories. As climate change and technology rapidly reshape the agricultural landscape, access to modern technology is becoming as critical as access to water or seeds. Information and Communication Technology (ICT)-based solutions like the AWWS help bridge this digital divide, and CSR efforts play a pivotal role in accelerating this transformation. By embedding smart solutions within rural ecosystems, BALCO is strengthening the flow of agri-intelligence while promoting climate-resilient farming.
By integrating hyperlocal weather forecasting with agronomic advisories, the AWWS equips farmers with timely and relevant information, helping them schedule irrigation, plan sowing and harvesting, and prepare for extreme weather events. Delivered in real time and made accessible through platforms like Gram Vikas Samitis, dedicated WhatsApp channels, and on-ground awareness efforts, this system empowers farmers to become more self-reliant, informed, and resilient. Alongside weather intelligence, it provides insights into soil moisture, pest and disease forecasting, and crop protection strategies, helping farmers reduce input waste, safeguard yield, and increase overall productivity. With this initiative, BALCO is introducing modernizing agriculture in rural farming communities along with strengthening their capacity to respond to climate challenges through sustainable, tech-enabled solutions.
Speaking on this initiative, Rajesh Kumar, CEO & Director, BALCO, said, “At BALCO, we see technology as a powerful enabler in driving industrial excellence as well as in empowering communities. The AWWS under our ‘Mor Jal Mor Maati’ project is a step making precision agriculture a reality for farmers. As a digital-first organization, we are committed to integrating innovation into our social initiatives to help build resilient, future-ready communities.”
The Mor Jal Mor Maati project focuses on supporting farmers through initiatives that improve surface water management with existing resources, augment irrigation facilities, and promote multi-cropping to reduce dependence on rainfall. It is also introducing farmers to new avenues such as lac cultivation, animal husbandry, horticulture, and non-timber forest produce, ensuring income generation round the year. The Vedanta Agriculture & Resource Centre has also been set up as part of the project to complement these efforts through trainings and input support. To date, the project has impacted over 5,700 farmers, driving sustainable agricultural practices and economic growth.
