Hyderabad, Mar 3 (UNI) Orbia Advance Corporation’s Precision Agriculture business, Netafim, on Tuesday announced two major water stewardship initiatives with Amazon India that are expected to save approximately 325 million litres of water annually across agricultural belts in Bengaluru and Hyderabad.
According to the company, the projects will help save around 175 million litres of water per year in Bengaluru’s western agricultural belt and about 150 million litres in northern Hyderabad.
In Bengaluru, traditional flood irrigation systems across 80 hectares of gourd and tomato farms will be converted to advanced drip irrigation, benefiting around 70 independent farmers, the company said in a release.
In Hyderabad, 40 hectares of maize and vegetable farms will be brought under drip irrigation, supporting nearly 40 independent farmers.
The initiative supports Amazon’s commitment to become water positive in India by 2027, returning more water to communities than it uses in its direct operations.
With rising water insecurity in Bengaluru, Hyderabad and the wider Karnataka and Telangana regions, the shift to drip irrigation is expected to significantly reduce water consumption while maintaining agricultural productivity.
The move is aimed at supporting farmer livelihoods as well as strengthening downstream urban water security.
Farmers participating in the Bengaluru project currently draw water from sources linked to the TG Halli Reservoir, which also supplies parts of west and north Bengaluru, including urban neighbourhoods, commercial districts and Amazon facilities.
In Hyderabad, farmers draw water from sources connected to the Kondapochamma Sagar reservoir, a major balancing reservoir under the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme.
Abhinav Singh, Vice President of Operations, Amazon India and Australia, said the company is committed to collaborations that promote responsible water use in India. He noted that farms transitioning from flood to drip irrigation are expected to significantly cut water consumption while maintaining crop productivity and stabilising yields.
Unlike conventional flood irrigation, drip systems deliver water directly to plant roots in measured quantities, minimising evaporation, runoff and overuse — a key advantage in regions facing erratic rainfall and groundwater depletion.
Max Moldavsky, Director of Innovation and Climate Solutions at Orbia Netafim, said the partnership demonstrates how precision irrigation can deliver meaningful impact for farmers and communities. He added that helping farmers adopt drip irrigation improves water efficiency, strengthens livelihoods and contributes to broader water security efforts.
The project marks the first collaboration between Amazon India and Orbia Netafim to address water challenges in India’s rapidly growing cities.
Water stewardship remains central to Orbia Netafim’s global sustainability strategy. The company has supported large-scale irrigation modernisation initiatives in India and globally to enhance water efficiency, improve farmer income stability and strengthen climate resilience. Building on landmark community irrigation projects in Karnataka, including the Ramthal Community Irrigation Project is in progress, Orbia Netafim said.
The new collaboration offers a scalable model for addressing water stress through practical, results-driven partnerships, the company added.
