Swadesh in Bastar, India: How Lift Irrigation Changed Lives in Kelaur Village

Swadesh-in-Bastar

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.

In Kelaur, the didis (female elders) of local Self-Help Groups (SHGs) have found a new solution and have started to reap the benefits of their hard work. This article documents the efforts of the community, the civil society organisations and the government department which led to this transformation in Kelaur.

Source: Six Degrees News