Livelihoods

Rural India is home of the original gig-economy worker. Enterprising villagers hop from tilling fields to tending shops, to door-to-door selling each day. Read the latest trends in micro-enterprises, rural start-ups and the shifting livelihoods of India’s villagers.

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Haryana introduces crop diversification to prevent groundwater exploitation

Haryana’s groundwater extraction is much higher than the state’s annual extractable resources. Government encourages farmers to switch from water-intensive paddy to reduce depletion

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Climate change disrupts livelihood of Kerala’s fishers

Extreme weather and cyclone alerts reducing the number of fishing days, besides dwindling fish catch, climate change is taking a toll on fishers’ livelihood

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Rains and elephants compound farmers’ lockdown challenges

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Incessant rains and wild elephants damaged water melons that cultivators could not sell during the lockdown. Organizations helped them reach buyers via social media

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Committed efforts will create progressive villages

By working together with zeal, development organizations and governments can overcome inherent challenges in rural India and bring about a positive change

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Ration sustains marginalized households through lockdown

Relief package of dry rations alleviated the hunger and food insecurity of informal wage workers who had lost their livelihood during the pandemic.

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Rural job guarantee program sequesters tons of carbon

MGNREGS, the anti-poverty scheme has ensured food security to millions, especially during the pandemic. The natural asset created through the scheme helps in carbon capture

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Kashmir’s plum no longer a plum crop for farmers

With increasing production costs and constant selling price over the years, farmers find growing plums economically unviable. They hope to explore new markets for better returns

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Women sustain traditional wisdom of conserving indigenous seeds

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Understanding the close link between crop diversity and resilience, women farmers in Mandla ensure that the conservation practice of climate-resilient traditional seeds continues

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Extreme weather events destroy Himachal’s apple orchards

Unseasonal rains, snow fall and hailstorms have damaged lakhs of apple trees, ruining Shimla’s famed fruits. This has dented the orchardists’ income and government’s revenue