project details

Chhattisgarh presents a poignant case of climate change influenced challenges in the lives of its farming community. Agriculture and its allied sectors provide income to around 80% of the rural population in Chhattisgarh and constitute 16% of state’s GDP. Of this agriculture- dependent population, more than half are marginal farmers, reliant on rain-fed mono-crop agriculture, making them most vulnerable to the impact of climate change. Watershed Organisation Trust (WOTR) has ben working extensively in 10 villages of Baikunthpur block, Korea district, Chhattisgarh, aimed at enhancing climate resilience among agricultural-dependent tribal communities. Simultaneously, the project also seeks to foster sustainable alternative livelihood sources, while improving the health and nutritional well-being of women and children, thereby increasing female contributions to the local economy and ultimately improving the community’s standard of living.

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Outcome

These projects have successfully assisted in restoring degraded landscapes, increasing water availability, improving soil health, strengthening marginal farmers by increasing agricultural productivity, positively impacting agricultural incomes, decreasing distress migration in non-watershed villages, giving women agency and improving the quality of life of rural households. More importantly, vulnerable communities have gained empowerment and capacity, allowing them to represent their own interests and access their entitlements.

credits

Directed by: Ipshita Bhattacharyya
Production: Pragati Mandotra
Cinematography: Nitin Kumar
Camera Assist: G
‍Edit by: Niladri Bhattacharji

services

End to End Production

client

Established in 1993, WOTR is an internationally recognised non-profit organisation and think tank that engages at the intersection of practice, knowledge and policy across scales and in collaboration with various stakeholders across sectors. WOTR’s goal is to ensure water and food availability, along with livelihoods and income security – to support the sustainable growth and well-being of vulnerable and disadvantaged communities in rural India.