Session 3 of the India CSR & ESG Summit, titled “Water, Soil and Scale: Driving Sustainable Impact in Agri-Water Ecosystems,” brought together leaders from government, corporates, and civil society to explore how integrated resource management can drive climate resilience and sustainable rural livelihoods. Moderated by Mr. Suman S., Director of Operations – Climate Action & Rural Livelihoods at Dr. Reddy’s Foundation, the panel included Shri Naveen Kumar (IAS), Secretary, Irrigation & Water Resources Department, Government of Uttar Pradesh; Ms. Tushara Shankar, Head CSR – Lupin Ltd. and Head – Lupin Foundation; Mr. Prabhakant Jain, General Manager & Head CSR – DS Group; Dr. Binita Verdia, General Manager CSR – Zydus Lifesciences Ltd.; Ms. Connie Silveira, Head CSR – Evonith Steel; and Mr. Navdeep Singh Mehram, Head CSR & Sustainability – Diageo India.

The discussion opened with the acknowledgement that India’s agricultural future depends on how effectively its water and soil resources are managed in tandem. These two natural assets form the foundation of food security and rural livelihoods, yet they are under immense stress due to overextraction, soil degradation, and changing rainfall patterns. Panelists emphasized that reversing this trajectory requires a balance of technology, community engagement, and long-term commitment, because, as Mr. Navdeep Singh aptly put it, “soil and water management is a game of patience, of crop cycles, of nature itself.”

Ms. Tushara Shankar shared Lupin Foundation’s extensive work under its Agriculture-Based Livelihood Empowerment program across Maharashtra and Rajasthan. Covering 20,000 farmers, the initiative has promoted drip and sprinkler irrigation systems for 1,800 farmers, conducted over 4,000 soil tests, and trained farmers through 700 Lupin Farmer Schools and 555 field demonstrations. By integrating soil health improvement with efficient water use, the program has increased productivity while building local ownership for sustainable resource management.

From Zydus Lifesciences, Dr. Binita Verdia highlighted their watershed and salinity management efforts across semi-arid regions of Gujarat and Maharashtra. The program has implemented 325 watershed structures, restoring around 250 crore liters of water and benefiting over 7,000 farmers across 5,550 hectares. The initiative has improved crop yields from 800 to 1,200 kilograms per hectare, revived biodiversity, and even reversed rural migration as communities began to return to rejuvenated landscapes. She described it as an encouraging sign that “when water returns to the land, people return to their roots.”

Mr. Prabhakant Jain presented DS Group’s Water Economic Zone model — an integrated approach that connects water conservation directly with livelihoods. The initiative is anchored on four pillars: water management, agricultural improvement, climate action, and market linkages. Over 1,200 water structures have been created, adding one crore cubic liters of storage capacity and enhancing productivity by 20–60% in several regions. Mr. Jain stressed that “if markets are missing, sustainability collapses,” emphasizing that economic viability must go hand-in-hand with environmental stewardship.

From the perspective of community-led interventions, Ms. Connie Silveira from Evonith Steel shared how their CSR journey began in Vidarbha, Maharashtra, with a focus on women farmers. Through the creation of Village Development Committees and women-led groups, the company fostered trust and collaboration, enabling the adoption of modern agricultural practices. Within 20 months, this approach not only improved earnings but also built strong social cohesion, setting the stage for further expansion into health and rural sports programs.

Adding a behavioural and cultural lens, Mr. Navdeep Singh Mehram of Diageo India underlined that true transformation in agriculture requires mindset change, not just technological intervention. Farmers, he noted, are deeply connected to traditional systems like rice-wheat cycles, and shifting these habits demands relatable role models, demonstration farms, and patient engagement. He cautioned that the absence of regulated water usage remains a major challenge and that both market and policy incentives are crucial to promoting sustainable farming practices.

Offering the government’s perspective, Shri Naveen Kumar (IAS) of the Government of Uttar Pradesh reiterated that agriculture remains India’s largest water consumer, making efficiency and equity critical to sustainability. Under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY), the government continues to focus on the three E’s — Economy, Equity, and Environment. He emphasized the role of technology in data-driven governance, with systems like AgriStack aiding soil diagnostics and water accounting. He reminded the audience that visible results in agriculture take at least three years and advocated for creating “islands of excellence” that can serve as models of replication for soil and water management systems nationwide.

Bringing the discussion together, Moderator Mr. Suman S. noted that the dialogue underscored a collective vision — to view soil and water not as isolated components but as interconnected levers of agricultural resilience. The panel’s shared insights reinforced that sustainability is a collaborative pursuit, requiring patience, science, and empathy. Whether through micro-irrigation models, regenerative agriculture, watershed restoration, or community-based governance, each initiative exemplified how partnerships between corporates, communities, and governments can transform ecological challenges into opportunities for growth.

The session concluded with a unifying takeaway: sustainable agriculture is not merely about productivity but about building ecosystems that endure. When soil health, water stewardship, and human enterprise align, India’s rural landscapes can truly thrive — fertile, resilient, and future-ready.