Eugenia Saini is currently FONTAGRO’s Executive Secretary. FONTAGRO is the Regional Fund for Agricultural Technology. She leads the investment fund and a portfolio of 70 international operations related to science, technology, and innovation for the Latin America and the Caribbean region. She is from Argentina and is an agronomist by training. She holds a doctorate in agricultural sciences, specializing in total factor productivity analysis. One of her seminal works in this field was the estimation of 120 years of TFP for the agricultural sector in Argentina. She is also a National Public Accountant and holds an MS in Food and Agribusiness and an MS in Applied Economics, both from Universidad de Buenos Aires. She has worked in the private and public sectors, both nationally and internationally, especially in multilateral banks. She was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship at Cornell University and, more recently, with the Abshire-Inamori Leadership Academy (AILA) Scholarship at the Center for Strategic & International Studies (CSIS) in Washington, D.C.
SUMMARY: Small and marginal farmers in rural India cultivate the land that feeds a nation, yet their own futures remain uncertain. With shrinking plots and ever-growing climate challenges, they need smart, resource-efficient, and scalable productivity-enhancing solutions. The S M Sehgal Foundation (SMSF) works to enhance agricultural productivity with efficient optimization of water, soil, and input use, through tools that focus on the specific needs of small and marginal farmers. By promoting low-cost technology such as drip and sprinkler irrigation, communities are learning to use water resources effectively. Field practices include the judicious use of chemicals, liquid and compound fertilizers, and more-effective nutrient blends tailored to local soil conditions. The introduction of biochar, a low-cost soil enhancer, improves soil structure and moisture retention to further advance total farm productivity.
Farming Smarter, Farm Productivity Higher
Agricultural productivity growth hinges on farmers’ ability manage their resources. When water, nutrients, and inputs like fertilizers are used wisely through practices such as water-saving irrigation, the application of soil-test-based fertilizers, or the use of biochar, farmers can produce more with less. Crop yields rise all while improving soil health and efficiency. This helps communities maintain a steady food supply even in resource-scarce regions and increase incomes through market opportunities.
Efficiency Optimization: The SMSF Approach
Water use optimization
The S M Sehgal Foundation’s core strength lies in its expert team working directly with farmers to develop effective solutions addressing their immediate challenges, including:
- Depleting groundwater, limiting irrigation
- Soil nutrient deficiencies
- Ongoing soil degradation
- Low water retention in soils
- Sustainable agricultural waste management
Drip and sprinkler irrigation systems can boost crop yields by 20–90% while conserving water compared to traditional flood methods. In India, where 75% of the cropped land lies in semi-arid regions, efficient irrigation is vital. Government schemes like the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) program have expanded micro-irrigation (MI) to 10.66 million hectares by 2020–21, yet this covers less than 20% of the 62-million-hectare potential (Mohan et al, 2024). Wider adoption of MI can improve water efficiency, expand irrigated areas, and strengthen rural livelihoods.
Fertilizer Usage
Liquid and compound fertilizers are essential tools for farmers to get the most out of limited resources. Commonly, farmers either overuse or underuse fertilizers, leading to soil degradation or nutrient depletion, which results in poor yields. Soil testing changes that. The SMSF agriculture team conducts hands-on training to help farmers test soil, interpret results, and apply the right nutrients.
Delivering liquid fertilizers through drip or sprinkler systems target nutrients directly to the roots or leaves, improving uptake and reducing waste. Used responsibly, they support better yields and healthier soil.
Up-and-Coming Biochar
Biochar is a stable form of carbon produced through pyrolysis of agricultural waste which significantly enhances soil health. When added to soil, biochar improves soil aeration, organic carbon water holding capacity, and microbial activities. These benefits lead to more-efficient use of inputs, thereby boosting crop yields without proportionally increasing input costs. Biochar contributes to total factor productivity growth, especially for small and marginal farmers in resource-constrained environments.
Biochar, though still in the pilot phase, shows promise as a unique soil amendment that can help improve moisture retention. While it is carbon-rich, it acts more like a soil conditioner, in simple terms, enhancing the structure and health. As trials continue, its full potential in supporting sustainable farming is gradually coming to light.
Through low-cost but effective technologies and practices, the S M Sehgal Foundation (SMSF) is working to enhance agricultural productivity with efficient optimization of water, soil, and input use, through tools that focus on the specific needs of small and marginal farmers.
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