Darjani village in Bhuban Block, Dhenkanal, Odisha, traditionally relied on rainfed, mono-cropped paddy, resulting in low productivity and income. Under the HDFC-FRDP Project, Mahashakti Foundation revitalized the community-based Mahara Irrigation System across 32 acres by renovating traditional channels and constructing a check dam with 10.8 lakh litres of storage capacity. A Water User Group (WUG) was formed to ensure equitable water distribution and collective management.
A solar pump was installed for irrigation, while pilot solar fencing protected vegetable crops from wild animals. A Bio-Pesticide Resource Centre promoted vermicompost, Azolla, Jeevamrut and botanical pesticides, reducing dependence on external chemical inputs and supporting sustainable agriculture.
Crop diversification included a 20-acre Jhain Moong cluster and 12 acres of organic vegetables, supported by Farmer Field Schools. Improved irrigation and diversified cropping increased cropping intensity from 100% to approximately 200–250%, generating an estimated annual net cluster income of ₹17.4 lakh.
Economic analysis using mean, standard deviation (SD), coefficient of variation (CV), benefit–cost ratio (BCR), return on investment (ROI) and break-even analysis demonstrated strong economic viability. Jhain Moong achieved a BCR of 2.14 and ROI of 114%, while vegetables recorded a BCR of 2.4 and ROI of 140%. The Darjani model offers a replicable pathway for transforming rainfed farming into diversified, productive and climate-resilient agriculture.