In the heart of rural India, where challenges abound and opportunities are rare, Oorja has been on a transformative journey, empowering households and fostering sustainability through clean energy and innovative farming solutions. 2024 was a year of bold innovation, strategic collaborations, remarkable achievements and resilient growth. Join us in celebrating another year of an unyielding dedication to empowering smallholder farmers.
A key highlight of the year was the successful closure of Oorja’s US$1.5 million Pre-Series A funding round. This milestone, supported by impact investors like Acumen Fund, elea, Artha Impact (Rianta Capital), 1to4 Foundation, Signal Fund, PG Impact and Swiss Re Foundation,, will supercharge our expansion into new districts and states, enabling us to scale our Farming-as-a-Service model. By 2030, Oorja aims to have deployed 10,000 agri-solar projects, positively impacting 1 million lives and abating 500,000 metric tons of CO2e emissions.
In a significant move, Oorja introduced solar irrigation services under EPC (Engineering Procurement and Construction) and FMI (Fixed Monthly Instalments) models, powering its first project in Haripur, Uttar Pradesh. The EPC model allows customers to retain full ownership of the asset immediately upon full payment. Under the FMI model, customers can pay in equal monthly installments, and ownership is seamlessly transferred upon the completion of the payment. Collaborating with Fairtrade International and Organic India Farmers Producer Company, the project brought sustainable irrigation to 32 farmers across 6.86 acres.
Oorja forayed into the Rooftop Solar Business in 2024. We became a registered vendor under the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana - a pioneering initiative launched by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), Government of India. Through this new service, our objective is to enable households to embrace affordable, green energy with substantial subsidies. Oorja has recently completed two rooftop solar installations under this scheme.
Oorja’s impact extends beyond access to technology, reaching deep into societal structures. This year, we onboarded Nirmala Devi as a solar irrigation pump operator in Bahraich, Uttar Pradesh. As the first woman in her family to step outside her home for work, Nirmala is challenging norms and reshaping perceptions, embodying our vision of empowering women in rural India.
In addition to operators like Nirmala, 17% of Oorja's irrigation customers are now women farmers. This growing participation is a remarkable shift, as women in rural areas have historically had limited access to key resources like irrigation technology. With Oorja’s pay-per-use solar irrigation service, more women are stepping into decision-making roles, managing their farms and directly contributing to household income.
We adopted a gender-neutral Prevention of Sexual Harassment (PoSH) policy to ensure a safe and inclusive workplace for all employees, regardless of gender. This reflects our commitment to fostering a respectful and harassment-free environment, ensuring that every team member feels secure, supported, and empowered to contribute fully to Oorja’s mission.
Oorja’s Farmer Advisory team has been pivotal in supporting small farmers with knowledge and tools for sustainable farming practices. We launched its Soil Health Testing Service across Bahraich, Barabanki, and Hardoi districts, providing farmers with vital insights to improve soil fertility. We aim to equip farmers with personalized Soil Health Cards and actionable recommendations. Early adopters have already begun seeing positive results, supported by Oorja’s dedicated Farm Advisors.
Oorja launched Seed Sale service under its Climate-smart Farmer Advisory vertical this year. We sold 3,000+ kilograms of high-yield, disease-resistant paddy, wheat and maize seeds in Bahraich and Barabanki districts. Through support from the Swiss Re Foundation, Oorja trained over 2,500 farmers on sustainable agronomic practices, including the use of organic pesticides and vermicompost.
