Lanjigarh (Odisha) [India], October 17: Vedanta Aluminium, India’s largest producer of aluminium, in a significant step towards promoting sustainable livelihoods and strengthening rural economies, has launched a pisciculture program under its flagship watershed and livelihood initiative – Project Sangam – in Lanjigarh. The initiative is aimed at creating alternative income opportunities for farmers and self-help group (SHG) members through scientific fish farming.
Implemented in collaboration with the Fisheries and Animal Husbandry Department of Kalahandi, the initiative spans 32 water structures across five acres in 13 villages, directly benefitting 44 farmers and SHG members. It provides them with the resources, training, and technical support needed to adopt pisciculture as a sustainable livelihood activity. The initiative is expected to generate an annual harvest of 20 tonnes of fish, significantly contributing to both local consumption and market supply.
Commenting on the initiative, Pranab Kumar Bhattacharya, CEO – Vedanta Alumina Business said, “At Vedanta Lanjigarh, we are committed to driving holistic community development through sustainable livelihood opportunities that align with environmental and social goals. The pisciculture initiative under Project Sangam supports income diversification for farmers while strengthening the rural economy and aligning with the state’s development vision.”
Beyond boosting fish production, the initiative reinforces Odisha’s ‘One District, One Product’ (ODOP) programme by promoting fishery as a key livelihood source in Kalahandi. By leveraging existing water bodies and integrating modern pisciculture practices, the project empowers farmers to unlock new income streams and build resilience against seasonal fluctuations, fostering long-term economic stability.
Vedanta Lanjigarh’s Project Sangam is an integrated watershed and livelihood project that builds technology-backed initiatives to enhance the livelihoods of rural communities. The project aims to create water-based assets across 41 villages in Lanjigarh, Kalahandi district, Odisha, ensuring round-the-year availability of water for drinking and agricultural purposes. The project also brings irrigation to over 3,500 acres of land in the region by increasing the water storage potential and groundwater recharge rate, ensuring that more than 22,000 people benefit from the project year-round
Through initiatives like these, Vedanta Lanjigarh continues to reaffirm its commitment to empowering local communities, fostering rural entrepreneurship, and contributing to Odisha’s inclusive growth journey.
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