Swadesh in Bastar, India: How Lift Irrigation Changed Lives in Kelaur Village
Recognizing the importance of having a perennial source of water when planning any agricultural activity and change, the women of kelaur, india installed solar energy-powered water pumps, allowing them to cultivate vegetables and fruit in their homesteads, which brought about a sea-change in their economic status and self-sufficiency.
Agriculture in Central India is dominated by paddy cultivation with a large portion of farmers only engaging in kharif agriculture. But post-kharif season is filled with uncertainty, and very few households engage in profitable agriculture in the rabi and summer seasons. Some of the reasons behind this are traditional; yet, this is mainly due to the rocky terrain and undulating lands, leading to the unavailability of water for crops.