What if the water saving your online order could help refill city reservoirs? In water-stressed cities like Bengaluru and Hyderabad, every drop matters. With urban demand rising and farmers relying on limited water sources, the need for smarter irrigation has never been more urgent.
In a major step toward sustainable water management, Amazon India has collaborated with Netafim, part of Orbia Precision Agriculture, to launch drip irrigation projects expected to save nearly 325 million litres of water annually. The initiative will benefit around 110 independent farmers across 120 hectares, replacing traditional flood irrigation with efficient drip irrigation systems that deliver water directly to plant roots, significantly reducing wastage while maintaining crop yields.
The projects are part of Amazon’s broader commitment to become water positive in India by 2027, meaning the company aims to return more water to communities than it uses in its direct operations.
In Bengaluru, the initiative is expected to save over 175 million litres of water annually by introducing drip irrigation across 80 hectares of gourd and tomato farms. Around 70 independent farmers in the western agricultural belt will benefit. These farms rely on water systems connected to the TG Halli reservoir, which supplies parts of west and north Bengaluru.
In Hyderabad, the project is expected to conserve 150 million litres annually across 40 hectares of maize and vegetable farms, supporting around 40 farmers. The farms draw water from sources linked to the Kondapochamma Sagar reservoir, part of the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme, critical to the region’s water security.
Max Moldavsky, Director of Innovation and Climate Solutions at Netafim, said the collaboration demonstrates how precision irrigation can deliver measurable impact by improving water efficiency, strengthening livelihoods, and advancing climate-resilient agriculture.
Meanwhile, Abhinav Singh, Vice President of Operations, Amazon India and Australia, noted that the initiative focuses on practical, on-ground solutions that help farmers enhance irrigation efficiency while contributing to broader water security efforts in water-stressed regions.
In 2024, Amazon pledged to become water positive in India by 2027, investing over Rs. 42 crore in projects across Maharashtra and New Delhi, and partnering with WaterAid and Water.org, to help restore more than 3 billion litres of water annually.
With scalable solutions rooted in precision agriculture, Amazon’s partnership signals how corporate sustainability can directly support farmers while easing pressure on city water supplies.
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