Revitalising Rainfed Agriculture Network

November Reflections : Reflect, Recalibrate, Reignite 🌦️ As intermittent showers nourish India's rainfed landscapes, November celebrated resilience through vibrant seed festivals and the inclusive 21st Livestock Census, showcasing the spirit of adaptation and collective action. December marks a pivotal moment for the RRA Network, as we bring together our Working Groups to celebrate milestones, learn from past experiences, and shape the strategies for the year ahead. Let's amplify our collective impact and drive sustainable rainfed agriculture practices across India's diverse landscapes. Join us! 📖 Rainfed Insight: Rainfed regions feed 40% of India’s population yet receive just 10% of public water investment. It’s time to bridge this gap! 👉 Explore the stories and updates: https://t.ly/LO-TE #RainfedAgriculture #Networking #RRAN #IndianAgriculture

🌱 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐅𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐬 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 🌿 Today, in the scenic Bhatiyat Block of Chamba district, our team from RRA having Mridul Ganguly, Malyaj Shrivastava & Shivangi Agarwal is conducting a comprehensive resource mapping exercise. This initiative is a step towards understanding the intricate relationships that local communities share with their natural surroundings — 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐬, 𝐰𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐛𝐨𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐬 — and the web of interdependencies that 𝘴𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘥𝘴. This exercise delves into the essence of community life, capturing how resources are utilized, conserved, and managed. By documenting these connections, we aim to 𝒉𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒍𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒔𝒖𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒃𝒍𝒆 𝒑𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒄𝒆𝒔, 𝒊𝒅𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒇𝒚 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒏𝒈𝒆𝒔, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒆𝒙𝒑𝒍𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝒐𝒑𝒑𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒖𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒆𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝒆𝒎𝒑𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒓 𝒍𝒐𝒄𝒂𝒍 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒖𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒆𝒔 𝒘𝒉𝒊𝒍𝒆 𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒆𝒓𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒅𝒆𝒍𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒍𝒐𝒈𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒍 𝒃𝒂𝒍𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆. Such efforts are pivotal in shaping informed strategies for environmental conservation and community upliftment. Through collective learning and collaboration, we are fostering a deeper understanding of the role that natural resources play in rural resilience and self-reliance. Together, we are not only mapping resources but also paving the way for innovative solutions that harmonize human needs with nature's abundance. 🌍 #Sustainability #ResourceMapping #CommunityEngagement #EnvironmentConservation #Chamba #RuralDevelopment PAHAD Trust Revitalising Rainfed Agriculture Network ANOOP KUMAR Major Harsh Vardhan (Retd)

Watershed Support Services and Activities Network (WASSAN) conducted a four-day workshop on e-DPR (electronic Detailed Project Report) preparation and facilitated an e-PRA (electronic Participatory Rural Appraisal) process for young professionals of SRIJAN in Kerabahra and Kewti villages, of Manendragarh block of Manendragarh-Chirmiri-Bharatpur (MCB) District, Chhattisgarh. The community also actively participated in mapping various resources within their villages, showcasing a collective effort to document their local assets. Furthermore, they engaged in open discussions about the challenges they face, particularly regarding the water management . This collaborative initiative underscores the villagers' commitment to enhancing their resources and addressing critical issues such as efficient water management system. #waterresources #watermanagement #watershedsupport #communityresources #empowerment #changemakers #impact Revitalising Rainfed Agriculture Network WASSANIndia Bharat Rural Livelihoods Foundation

Revisiting the highlights of the 2nd Millet Mentor Partners’ Meeting held on November 29, 2024. Jointly anchored by WASSANIndia & SELCO Foundation, this event united changemakers from across India to strengthen millet ecosystems through collaborative action. 💡 Key Takeaways: Building sustainable value chains Creating regional knowledge hubs Empowering millet enterprises Our Partners in Change: Agrozee Organics, CYSD, DevdhanyaFPO, EARTH 360 ECO VENTURES PRIVATE LIMITED, Jaivik Sattva Organic Private Limited, Kanakpura Organic, Tattvam, National Institute of Women Child and Youth Development (NIWCYD), Pragati Abhiyan, Sahaja Samrudha, SCOPE NGO, SEWAK Organization, Sittlingi FPO, Surangi FPO, SwitchON Foundation (Environment Conservation Society), Taptapani Farmers Producer Company Limited, The Covenant Centre for Development (CCD), Transfarm Technology.

Heartiest congratulations to Sahaja Samrudha, a pioneering partner organisation from Mysuru, Karnataka for being awarded the Social Impact Award 2024 by BVBS-SPJIMR! This recognition highlights their incredible work in preserving traditional seed varieties and empowering farming communities with sustainable practices. Their efforts continue to inspire us all in the journey toward resilient and sustainable agriculture. 👏 📖 Read more: Sahaja Seeds Award News https://lnkd.in/gmtdR4uu #SeedSovereignty #SocialImpact #Agroecology #SustainableFarming

🌊 Reframing Water Management for Rainfed Regions 🌾 At the Food Systems Summit 2024, organised by Food and Land Use Coalition - FOLU India and Bharat Krishak Samaj, Ravindra A, Executive Director of WASSANIndia, delivered a powerful address on the need to rethink water resource management in climate-vulnerable rainfed regions. He emphasis is on: 💧 The disparity in public water investments—90% (₹90,000 Cr) directed towards irrigated areas, marginalizing rainfed farmers. 🌱 A paradigm shift is needed: from "water as irrigation" to inclusive, micro-local solutions for sustainable governance. Over 50% of India’s agricultural population operates outside current water policies. It’s time to champion water security for rainfed areas! 📺 Watch his insights here: https://lnkd.in/gJcJvvS5 #RainfedAgriculture #WaterSecurity #ClimateAction #FSSIndia2024 #WaterPolicy TERI - The Energy and Resources Institute Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW) WRI India Food and Land Use Coalition (FOLU)

This year's T N Khoshoo Memorial Award and Lecture theme focuses on Reviving India's Ecosystems by Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment goes to Manish Rajankar and the Dhivar community, a traditional fishing community from Vidarbha, Maharashtra for their efforts to restore the wetlands in this region. Manish Rajankar, director of FEED (Foundation for Economic and Ecological Development), is the thematic anchor for freshwater fisheries theme of Maharashtra RRA Network working on community-based revival of traditional water tanks in Eastern Vidarbha area. Kudos ✌

On November 29th, 2024, the 2nd Millet Mentor Partners’ Meeting, hosted by WASSANIndia in collaboration with SELCO Foundation, brought together changemakers from Odisha, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, and Madhya Pradesh. This dynamic event focused on turning challenges in millet promotion into opportunities. Highlights included insights from network partners - National Institute of Women Child and Youth Development (NIWCYD), Welthungerhilfe (WHH), CYSD, EARTH 360 ECO VENTURES PRIVATE LIMITED, Jaivik Sattva Organic, Kanakpura Organic, Tattvam, Pragati Abhiyan , Sahaja Samrudha, SCOPE NGO, SEWAK Organization, Sittlingi FPO, Surangi FPO, SwitchON Foundation (Environment Conservation Society), Taptapani Farmers Producer Company Limited, The Covenant Centre for Development (CCD), Transfarm Technology. and Agrozee Organics, addressing critical barriers in small millet cultivation, processing, and market access. Building on the success of the 1st meeting, discussions emphasized creating: ✅ Sustainable value chains ✅ Regional knowledge hubs ✅ Farmer empowerment This program aligns with Revitalising Rainfed Agriculture Network's vision of leveraging millets to combat climate change, enhance nutrition security, and strengthen rural economies. Together, we are driving the millet revolution forward! 🌱 #MilletsForAll #SustainableFarming #ClimateAction #RRANetwork

📢 Invitation to Participate in the National Webinar on Innovation Guild – 14th December, 2024 We are pleased to invite you to participate in the upcoming National Webinar on Innovation Guild, organized by Revitalising Rainfed Agriculture Network (RRA Network). Innovation Guild is building an ecosystem of enablers to bring better understanding of  the community requirements and strengthen the reach of relevant innovations for the same. We are doing this by creating an active network of Village Level Entrepreneurs who can provide local allied services for innovations to build the technology absorption capacity of the rural communities. This webinar will explore how CSOs, FPOs, and WSHGs play a crucial role in establishing a Village Entrepreneur Network, ensuring the last-mile adoption of innovations in rural areas. Webinar Details: * Date: 14th December 2024 * Time: 2:30 PM * Meeting Link: Click here [https://shorturl.at/5yl61] to join the Webinar We are honored to have Shri. M. Chandrasekhar Rao and Dr. Sabyasachi Das as our esteemed speakers. They will share their valuable insights and lead a meaningful discussion on the role of Innovation Guild in small farm mechanization. For any queries, please feel free to contact us at: * Mr. Malyaj: malyaj@wassan.org * Dr. Sai Mohan: saimohan@wassan.org We look forward to your participation! Warm regards, Innovation Guild (IG)

🌾Counting more than livestock, we're counting livelihoods and resilience🌱 The 21st Livestock Census is a critical step toward understanding and empowering pastoral communities across India. With efforts like those led by Sajal Kulkarni and his team at Centre for People's Collectives and Maharashtra RRA Network, enumerators, supervisors, and DNOs in Chandrapur, Nagpur, and Hingoli are ensuring that transhumant herders and their contributions to ecosystems and rural economies are recognized and valued. Their focus on including community members is enabling the government departments to connect directly with them and understand their unique lifestyles and challenges. By mapping migratory routes and ensuring pastoralists and their livestock are represented, we aim for a census that truly includes everyone. Let’s celebrate the efforts driving equitable policies for sustainable pastoralism. #Pastoralism #LivestockCensus #SustainableFarming #RRANetwork