Aatmanirbhar Bharat
About Aatmanirbhar Bharat
Our Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative is a pioneering effort to transform Chhareda into a model village by integrating advanced, data-driven agricultural technologies and promoting self-sustaining farming practices. We’re deploying AI-driven systems and precision agriculture techniques to address core challenges like water scarcity, crop productivity, and groundwater depletion, setting a framework for rural resilience that can scale to thousands of villages nationwide.
At the heart of this initiative are strategically placed farm ponds and IoT networks, designed using sophisticated digital elevation models (DEMs) and hydrological mapping. These models allow us to determine optimal water catchment areas, capturing and storing monsoon runoff to provide farmers with a year-round irrigation supply. With the aid of DEMs, we identify the best locations for ponds and IoT devices, ensuring that water management is efficient, targeted, and adaptable to changes in topography and rainfall patterns. These ponds not only mitigate groundwater depletion but also reduce dependency on uncertain rainfall, stabilizing crop cycles and income flows.
By fostering direct engagement with village councils and conducting extensive field visits, we have built trust with local communities, addressing stakeholders’ questions and aligning technology with real-world farming needs. We aim to scale this model, bringing sustainable, tech-enabled agriculture to the 600,000 villages of India. Through Aatmanirbhar Bharat, we are laying the groundwork for a self-reliant rural India, where technology and traditional wisdom coalesce to drive long-term agricultural and economic prosperity.
Problem
Rajasthan, one of India’s driest states, faces severe water scarcity due to irregular rainfall and persistent drought. Farmers rely heavily on groundwater for irrigation, but excessive extraction has depleted these reserves to critical levels, leaving many unable to access water for crops. As a result, farming seasons have shrunk, forcing farmers to only grow during the monsoons This reduction in agricultural activity has led to decreased incomes, pushing many to seek non-farming jobs during the winter and off-seasons.
This map reveals critical groundwater depletion across regions, with Rajasthan (Western State) heavily over-exploited and at risk of desertification.
Government data confirms a critical 148% groundwater extraction rate in Rajasthan. This means more groundwater is used than replenished, leading to rapid depletion
Our Work
Through hands-on field visits, advanced mapping, and direct engagement with local communities, we are tackling the critical issue of groundwater scarcity in rural Rajasthan. By identifying root causes, implementing solutions like farm ponds, and leveraging precision agriculture technology, we empower farmers, optimize water usage, and build resilience against water scarcity.
Conducted field visits in Chhareda and rural Rajasthan, interviewing farmers to identify the root issue of groundwater scarcity and its impact on their livelihoods, while exploring sustainable solutions.
Built digital elevation models (DEMs) to reveal that 60% of rainwater flows away during the monsoon. By capturing this runoff, Farm Pond ensures a year-round water supply for irrigation. The slope, contour, and drainage maps allowed us to identify optimal pond locations and plan efficient IoT network placement for monitoring and management.
Presented advanced technology-based solutions at village council meetings, addressing questions and concerns from various stakeholders
Farm Pond in construction
Impact
Farmers who previously couldn’t grow crops due to water scarcity can now participate in cultivation.
Farmer Mr. Shamlal now benefits from the farm pond, which provides reliable irrigation water even during the dry summer months. With the support of LeafPulse, he optimizes water usage, ensuring reducing reliance on groundwater.
Mr. Raju shares how tools like PestID, LeafPulse, and the farm pond have transformed his farming experience—improving his economic conditions, removing the stress of securing irrigation water, and enabling him to cultivate more land.
Recognition
Our project, particularly the transformative farm pond initiative, earned substantial recognition with a generous $100,000 grant from Hero MotoCorp. This crucial support propels our mission to bring this sustainable model to 600,000 villages across India, empowering rural communities nationwide.
View the funding letter here
Future
India, the second-largest producer of tomatoes globally, holds an 11% share in global tomato production. Yet, less than 1% of this yield is processed domestically, forcing large MNCs to import processed tomatoes despite increasing tariffs. Currently, our team is collaborating with local producers to explore the potential and feasibility of tomato processing, aiming to raise incomes and boost employment in rural areas of India.
