The pulveriser provides a reliable source of income, and with better access to water, Babulal’s farmland holds new possibilities.
A Better Tomorrow
Stories, Practices, and Solutions
Odisha’s tribal communities face economic and livelihood challenges due to persistent water shortages and limited opportunities. This blog explores how cashew cultivation, supported by various government initiatives and NGOs, is transforming these communities. Historical struggles over land rights and recent developments in cashew farming are highlighted, showcasing both the challenges and the potential for sustainable agricultural practices.
Bingi Ramulu, a 52-year-old farmer from Ammireddipally village in Narayanpet, had lost hope in his eleven-acre rainfed plot ever turning a profit. Determined for solutions, he joined one of the 15 Farmer Field Schools (FFSs) in Ammireddipally, part of the Axis Bank Foundation’s Sustainable Livelihoods Programme, run by WOTR.
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A reflection on WOTR’s 32-year journey translating grassroot watershed and climate resilience practice & research into state and national policies.
Monocropping’s long-term impacts on soil, pests, and farmer incomes are explored through insights from Nitin Kumbhar, highlighting sustainable alternatives, diversification strategies, and pathways to climate-resilient agriculture in India.
A family in Odisha rebuilds their lives after a tragic accident, using community support to start a small shop that restores their livelihood, dignity, and hope.
A glimpse into the cultural practices and land-based traditions of tribal communities in WOTR’s project regions.
Drawing from work with smallholder farmers—from Kumbharwadi in Maharashtra to Madaul in Odisha—WOTR has contributed key experiences, insights, and evidence to the Stories of Resilience 2025, a publication launched by the Global Centre on Adaptation (GCA) at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Belém, Brazil.
How can smallholders farm fish while safeguarding their local ecosystems? One promising answer lies in farm ponds.
Read how a school, and ultimately an entire village in Maharashtra, was transformed with clean toilets
Phool’s journey from uncertain, monocropping to stable, climate-resilient agriculture shows how access to irrigation, diversification, and community support can transform livelihoods.