The Hinduja Foundation has launched a soil and water conservation initiative in Tamil Nadu’s Krishnagiri district, restoring about 55 hectares of farmland, roughly the size of 75 football fields, through large-scale desilting and soil enrichment.
Implemented by PRADAN with CSR support from Ashok Leyland, the project removes silt from irrigation tanks and applies the nutrient-rich material to nearby fields. More than 60 smallholder farmers across Shoolagiri, Hosur and Denkanikottai taluks are already benefiting through improved soil fertility, lower input costs and more reliable water access.
Krishnagiri’s tank-dependent agriculture has been strained by declining groundwater and soil degradation. The initiative also repairs channels and establishes Tank Protection Committees to ensure long-term community stewardship.
“This initiative reflects our belief that innovation in rural development can go hand in hand with environmental stewardship,” said Raman Kalyanakrishnan, CEO of Hinduja Foundation. He added that the model is designed to be scaled across regions.
In its next phase, the programme is expected to support more than 700 farmers across ten villages. By restoring soil health and strengthening community-led water management, the initiative offers a practical, scalable model for climate-resilient agriculture and improved rural livelihoods in tank-dependent regions like Krishnagiri.
