Natural Capital

Sapling plantation at Ankleshwar

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Natural Capital

Leading Sustainability Practices

We are leading the way in sustainability practices and have implemented a range of measures to make our business operations more sustainable. We have set ambitious targets for further improving sustainability performance in the future.

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Our sustainability focussed operations include using safe crop protection products, organic fertilisers, organic manure and bio-pesticides, reducing water usage, water-soluble packaging material and minimising pollution. We give continuous education to various stakeholders on sustainable agriculture.

Our Sustainability Strategy and Achievements

A. Effluent Management

1,25,199 KL

Treatment of effluents generated

63,395 KL

Treated water recycled

B. Waste Management

38,991MT

Total waste generated

20,682 MT

Waste disposed by nature of disposal method

58 %

Waste disposed intensity

Moving Towards a Circular Economy

Initiated several programmes of converting waste into commercial products e.g. Spent Acid to Aluminium Sulphate, Sodium Sulphate consumed in co-processing instead of land filling, waste potassium sulphate purified to potassium sulphate, recovery of Br2 from Sodium Bromide Solution, Polyaluminium Chloride from Waste Alum.

C. Water Conservation

We have a water harvesting facility at Kokkonda plant for Seeds, with a capacity to store approximately 25 KL of water. We have recycled and reused 63,395 KL treated wastewater.

Recharging Groundwater

Inadequate water leads to health problems as groundwater level has drastically declined and villagers have to depend on water tankers for domestic water use. Since we have a strong connection with two major consumers of water, i.e., agriculture and industries, we play a critical role in combating emerging water shortage in India.

The Jal Dhan programme was started with this approach in mind. It is a rainwater conservation programme in Maharashtra with special focus on water-stressed regions which is working on increasing water availability for domestic and agricultural use through watershed interventions. The programme works towards reducing run-off rainwater, increasing the aquifer and constructing water storage and recharge infrastructure.

The Rallis Approach

The Company discusses the water problem with villagers and also the solution to overcome these issues. It motivates them to take ownership of the project by becoming an implementing partner. Through the system of Shramdaan, the villagers contribute a minimum of 10% of the project cost.

As per the topography, various methods are implemented such as land treatment and drainage line treatment, e.g., deepening and de-silting nala, ponds, existing water storage structures, constructing small check-dams, ponds and others. The local authorities and government authorities continue to appreciate the pioneering efforts of the Company. With locals understanding the concept of getting maximum returns with minimum investment, there has been a huge demand for Jal Dhan projects in other villages too.

Achievements of Jal Dhan Project

Since 2015, the Company has covered 90 villages under Jal Dhan project in Maharashtra and Gujarat impacting more than 2.75 lakh villagers and harvested 3.53 MCM of water in the current year

Jal Dhan Project

Almost all farmers have seen a permanent change in cropping patterns post adoption of Jal Dhan. Every farmer is undertaking the practice of growing at least three crops and a majority of them have shifted towards cash crops such as Soybean and Sugarcane, which resulted in an increase in their income levels
Due to the increase in crop production and year-round crops, daily wage earners i.e., agri labourers, were engaged in farm work throughout the year, which ultimately led to reducing the problem of migration to cities
Due to increased agriculture, wage employment of women increased, as they leveraged the opportunity of earning wages throughout the year. Post Jal Dhan, this drudgery has been significantly reduced and ultimately, this has led to an improvement in their health status
About 75% of the respondents reported that due to the Jal Dhan programme, rainwater is harvested and groundwater has been recharged, especially in downstream regions. The percolation of water in every well was also at a higher rate
About 60% of the respondents reported that due to this project, the problem of drinking water in villages has been permanently solved and they now receive water throughout the year

Jal Dhan project

D. Product Stewardship

We are building a portfolio of eco-friendly and less toxic products. As per our policy, we have discontinued the production of extremely toxic red triangle products, as per the Insecticides Act. Instead, we are focussing on introducing green triangle products (slightly toxic).

E. Reducing Carbon Footprint

We have a 4.4 MW capacity Solar plant at Dahej CZ and 309 KW capacity solar rooftop at Akola. To this, we are adding 1 MW solar power at Dahej CZ and Ankleshwar. Apart from this, we are also implementing 1.1 MW capacity hybrid power at Ankleshwar. We are installing a Hybrid Thermal Solar Panel for air conditioning systems at Ankleshwar on a pilot basis.

Planting more Saplings, Aiming at Afforestation

In the current year, the Company planted more than 28,000 saplings - Largest in the tribal belt. With this, more than 71 acres of waste and deforested land were converted into afforestation.