Skoll Entrepreneur(s): Amitabha Sadangi
Change(s) Addressed: Economic & Social Equity

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DESCRIPTION:

Amitabha Sadangi is the architect of International Development Enterprises India’s (IDE-India) “market creation” approach to development, focused on sustainable local industries producing and selling irrigation technologies that even the poorest farmers can afford. He has directed IDE (India) since it became independent of its international parent organization. Every product is designed to produce a net return on investment more than 100% of the purchase price every year, allowing farmers to move up the ladder of development.

KEY ACCOMPLISHMENTS AS OF 2010

• Together, IDE-India’s treadle pump and drip system are being used by over 1 million smallholder farmers. These farmers make an additional $400 every year, with cumulative farmer earnings of over $1 billion over 15 years.
• This change in financial situations has far-reaching impacts on the lives of these farmers, including, among other benefits, increased access to education for their children and improved nutritional intake.
• In addition, the technologies have saved an estimated 3 billion cubic meters of water, 533 million litres of diesel fuel, and 417 million kilowatt hours of electricity, resulting in a reduction of 1.8 million tons in carbon dioxide emissions.

SEE THEIR WORK IN ACTION: