Manjari Corner
Manjari Foundation honored with the Award for outstanding contribution to social consciousness at the prestigious World CSR Congress 2025. In partnership with HDFC Bank, focused village development project brought together 50 farmers from 40 villages to learn about regenerative agriculture practices. A 1-day exposure visit to the Agriculture Science Congress 2025 at G.B. Pant Agricultural University, Pantnagar was organized for 50 farmers from Scheduled Tribes where they received training on goat farming and input support. Two of our Community Resource Persons from Dholpur conducted garlic pickle training at a Rajeevika unit in Rajsamand, as part of our collaboration with Axis Bank Foundation.

Green Energy

Overview

At Manjari Foundation, we are committed to creating a sustainable future for rural communities. With a focus on reducing carbon footprint and promoting eco-friendly solutions, we haveve launched Green Energy projects in Banda and Sitarganj. Our mission is to empower villages with clean, renewable energy, and mitigate the impact of climate change.

Approach and Strategy

In Banda, Uttar Pradesh, we have installed 300 solar street lights across 30 villages, benefiting over 5500 families. This initiative aims to decrease carbon emissions and ensure a reliable electricity supply to rural communities. By providing clean energy alternatives, we are supporting sustainable development and enhancing the quality of life for villagers.

In Sitarganj, we have operationalized 400 solar lights with a capacity of 7.2 KW. These lights generate an impressive 13,140 KWh of solar power energy, reducing reliance on non-renewable sources. Additionally, we have installed two solar pumps, each with a capacity of 7.5 HP, which irrigate 25 acres of land. This eco-friendly solution promotes sustainable agriculture practices and enhances crop yields.

By leveraging solar power, we are reducing carbon emissions, promoting energy independence, and improving the lives of thousands of villagers.

Solar irrigation system

Manjari has recently started working with marginalized communities in Block Badokhar Khurd, District Banda (Uttar Pradesh) facilitating Producer groups, development committees and Jal Samitis. Community projects developed around existing social structures are more likely to sustain.

Solving Farmers' Irrigation Problems Through a Community Solar Energy Pump

Recently, we have set up 13 Community-based solar irrigation systems under Natural Resource Management theme of FRDP Programme. The programme strategy is to promote chemical free farming by providing irrigation access in order to increase the livelihood of the farmers. Jal Samiti has has been formed to manage this solar irrigation systems. The main objective of these systems is to irrigate up to 30-35 acres of land from each pump installed. The members of Jal Samiti's varies from 10 to 25, according to their land size. Collectively, 136 farmers are benefitting from the solar system, harnessing its power to enhance their agricultural activities. Simultaneously, their efforts are irrigating a vast expanse of 390 acres of land, fostering chemical free farming practices and contributing to agricultural productivity.

Economically, these pumps reduced reliance on costly diesel or grid electricity, lowering operational expenses and making irrigation more affordable, especially for smallholder farmers. By improving access to reliable water sources, they enhanced agricultural productivity, leading to higher yields and more stable incomes. Socially, shared pumps fostered community cooperation, as farmers collaborated to manage and maintain the system. They also reduced the physical burden on women and marginalized farmers who often struggled with manual irrigation. Environmentally, solar-powered pumps replaced fossil fuel-driven alternatives, cutting carbon emissions and promoting sustainable water use. By ensuring consistent irrigation, these systems enabled multiple cropping cycles, improved produce quality, and supported the diversification of crops, ultimately contributing to an increase in the livelihood of farmers in the Banda region.

New Farm Ponds Construction

“Let the husband die, but the earthen pot of water should not be broken.” This is a common saying in the Banda region of Bundelkhand, illustrating the extent of the water crisis in the region.

Banda is a rain-fed and dry region with an average rainfall of up to 830 mm. The groundwater level has fallen to depths of over 500 feet in some areas, and the over-exploitation of common resources is a significant concern. The majority of the land area consists of plains below 300 meters, characterized by rocky terrain with black and yellow soil, both of which are low in organic nutrients, making agriculture difficult.

Manjari Foundation, in collaboration with HDFC Bank’s Focused Rural Development Programme – Parivartan, has launched a transformative initiative in the Banda region to enhance farmers' livelihoods by promoting chemical-free farming. A key pillar of this initiative is the construction of 300 farm ponds, designed to improve water retention, recharge groundwater, and support multiple cropping cycles—ultimately increasing farmers’ income and resilience.

Fifty new ponds were constructed in FY 23-24, and 100 in FY 24-25, making a total of 150 new farm ponds in project villages so far. The water storage capacity of each pond is 1,734 cubic meters, and with 150 farm ponds, the collective water storage capacity is 260 million liters throughout the year.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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'Manjari’ literally translates to “seed of Tulsi”, a sacred Indian plant. When women mobilise themselves to form institutions, they are empowered to sow their own ‘seeds of change’.