Improving Farm Based Livelihoods of 1500 farmers through promotion of Climate Resilient Agriculture Practices

Climate change has added a new dimension of complexity to managing ecosystems sustainably as well as improving the livelihoods of rural poor. Weather variations and extreme weather events will continue to exert stress on human societies and the environment alike, thereby making them even more vulnerable. It is largely believed that these stresses will disproportionately affect developing countries, in particular, rural communities located in dry-land ecosystems due to their dependence on the local natural resource base that is highly susceptible to variations in weather and the presence of socially diverse resource-constrained marginal and small-holder producers.

With your support, Watershed Organisation Trust (WOTR), a globally recognized organization dedicated to transforming the lives of millions of poor across India would aim to promote sustainable farming practices of 1500 farmers by introducing organic methods to reduce input cost and enhance crop productivity across 10 villages of Manchal Mandal Block in the Rangareddy district of Telangana. It would also aim to promote fodder cultivation and thus improve livestock production systems.

Farm-based and allied livelihoods are the mainstay of income in this region of the state. They provide employment and livelihoods to nearly 75% of the population. Yet, most are under-employed and are wage labourers. Climate variability, change in land-use patterns, shift to resource-intensive cultivation coupled with over-exploitation, is leading to degradation of soil health and depletion of groundwater resources. Thus, posing a threat to the livelihood.

Farm-raised animals are also an important source of income and act as insurance and buffer in times of drought or weather-induced disasters. However, rearing practices of livestock is poor lead to high mortality and low productivity.

The proposed project aims to address these issues of crop productivity by enhancing the soil health and fodder availability to livestock rearers.

1. Promotion of organic practices: Farmers will be encouraged to adopt various organic preparations to reduce the cost of cultivation and improve crop yields. Drums will be supplied to support the adoption of this activity.
2. Farmers Field School (FFS): Knowledge extension will be done through FFS across different crop seasons. WOTR’s Farm Precise application will be introduced to farmers which would provide direct local specific weather information and farm and crop-based advisories, to allow better crop and water management.
3. Promotion of fodder cultivation: Good variety fodder seeds or saplings will be distributed to ensure fodder security in the long run for livestock rearers.
4. Resource materials: Resource material including POP for different crops will be developed to support easy knowledge transfer.

Watershed Organisation Trust (WOTR) is a globally recognized organization dedicated to transforming the lives of millions of poor across India through participatory watershed development and ecosystems restoration, climate-resilient sustainable agriculture, integrated and efficient water management and climate change adaptation, with a special emphasis on building the resilience of vulnerable communities, farmers, and women. It was established in 1993 and is headquartered in Pune, Maharashtra, India. WOTR’s mandate is to reduce poverty through community mobilization for sustainable watershed development and integrated rural development. WOTR grew out of the Indo-German Watershed Development Project (IGWDP) launched in 1989 by Father Hermann Bacher, who is considered the father of the participatory watershed movement in India.