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.
Livelihoods
Tuskers trample Bengal village’s jackfruits of labour
As north Bengal struggles to coexist with elephants, the fate of Nepali Basti’s once-thriving jackfruit trade hangs in the balance as farmers incur losses due to the onslaught from the tuskers and abandon cultivation.
Bengal farmers bear brunt of Assam poultry ban
Aftershocks of Assam’s bird flu-related ban continue to rattle the poultry industry in Bengal even after the withdrawal of curbs, resulting in severe losses for farmers.
Panchkroshi – Maharashtra farmers harness the power of five
Maharashtra farmers are reviving the traditional concept of Panchkroshi, wherein five neighbouring villages come together, to boost sustainability in their drought-hit region.
Women suffer as Kashmir garlic faces market blues
As the market for Kashmiri garlic records a slump for the fourth year in a row, growers have been pushed against the wall in the Valley’s villages.
Bengal banana farmers bask in sunshine
Banana farmers in West Bengal’s Birbhum district conserve water and energy, utilising solar-powered pumps to extract groundwater and distribute it through the drip irrigation system.
Unique homestays in Munsiari
Homestays in this Himalayan village serve as the base for nature and adventure tourists while offering a livelihood for the local people, especially women.
Women’s organic farms mitigate Jharkhand’s migrant issue
Women farmers in Koteng Sera village of Jharkhand have embraced organic farming practices, breaking the cycle of labour migration, and securing nutritious f and income for their families.
Kerala’s tribal farmers sow success with millets
After Kerala reintroduced millet cultivation among the indigenous communities of Attapadi taluk, the villagers enjoy better health and livelihood despite losing crops to wild animals.
Papads and pickles empower women in Maharashtra
A women's self-help group in the quaint village of Peth in Palghar district of Maharashtra has transformed traditional culinary skills into entrepreneurial success.