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A holistic rural development project promoting village-level water management and boosting farmer income through water-efficient agriculture and value-addition
We worked with farmers and villagers in the Khatamla panchayat of Rajasthan, India on natural resource management, including collective water budgeting, rainfall harvesting, and management, as well as incorporating water-efficient, climatically suited agriculture for increased livelihoods.
We also created a supply chain where tribal women can create teas and oils from locally-grown crops, adding to collective livelihood generation. We also did extensive cultural documentation, grassroots awareness on sexual assault, and research on caste and gender disparities in Rajasthan.
Participating farmers were able to increase their annual income by 30-40%. The two years we spent in Khatamla were transformative for our team. The project was handed off to Seva Mandir's in-house team for continued scaling.
"I have witnessed first-hand Sumana's exceptional dedication, innovation, and impact in the field of sustainable development and water management... Sumana's commitment to her community and passion for development work go far beyond her project successes. Throughout her fellowship, she chose to live independently in a remote village to fully immerse herself within the community she served. She learned the local languages, respected culturaltraditions, and has maintained friendships with the rural tribal farmers she worked with to this day, demonstrating her deep connection and genuine dedication to the people and the work." - Ronak Shah, CEO - Seva Mandir
