Published in Deccan Herald
Blogs & Op-eds
Urban Water
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Seed Treatment: A Step Towards Sustainable Agriculture in Raichur and Koppal
Seed treatment is a simple, low cost, and highly effective method of improving seed germination, root health, and nutrient uptake across cotton, maize, pulses, and vegetables.
Empowering Rural Women Through AI for Sustainable Agriculture
To ground-truth and ensure accuracy of satellite data and AI models, rural women in Chintamani are locally collecting soil moisture sensor readings, supporting drought identification and targeted investments in water-saving interventions.
Remote Sensing for Community Driven Applications – Stakeholder Meeting Report
The RS4C Stakeholder Meeting identified, validated, and prioritised feasible RS use cases across water, soil, crop, and climate dimensions. This report details context of the project, proceedings of the workshop, and insights generated from the same.
The end of MGNREGA is the undoing of a social revolution in rural India
Published in Scroll.in
Reinventing India’s carb-heavy diet with protein, indigenous foods
Published in Scroll.in
When Good Farming Ideas Fail to Last
Improved agronomic practices often demonstrate clear results, but adoption fades the moment external support ends. Sustaining them requires rebuilding the larger ecosystem to both support and sustain the last-mile farmer.
From Fields of Struggle to Hubs of Innovation: Farmers, Mechanisation, and the Promise of Local Enterprise
A recent pilot across three villages in Raichur district demonstrates the power of local enterprise in advancing rural mechanisation. Farmers, women entrepreneurs, and rural youth are turning farm machinery into shared village resources through local service hubs, improving access to technology and strengthening livelihoods in the process.
Unpacking the Gender Gap in India’s Agricultural Tech Revolution
India’s drive to integrate technology into agriculture promises innovation, ease, and greater rewards, but women farmers are often left behind. This analysis delves into the gender disparities shaping the future of agricultural technology in India.
The World Is Running Out of Fresh Water. What Happens If We Do?
Published in Truthout
Reimagining WUCS in Karnataka: Towards Inclusive and Sustainable Water Governance
A systematic, step-by-step approach is needed to build a strong, democratic WUCS from the inside out, shift the power dynamics, and give everyone a voice.
Tech is important, but trust is key when working with rural communities: Veena Srinivasan, Founder, WELL Labs
Published in The Indian Express
Promoting Equitable Irrigation, Market Access, Agricultural Innovation, and More | Insights from the Rural Futures Programme
The Rural Futures team shares what they learnt from their initiatives in Raichur, Koppal, and Chikkaballapur districts of Karnataka
Mapping Water, Building Ownership: A Ground-Up Approach to Water Governance
Introducing a tech component to participatory rural appraisal has changed how farmers engage with the process.
Raichur at the Crossroads: Gender-Sensitive Strategies for Sustainable Rural Labour
Published in The Federal
Addressing the Labour Barrier in the Transition to Crop Diversification
This study explores the labour dynamics of various crops, the gendered dimensions of farm work, and the technological interventions that can reduce the labour burden of diversified cropping and make it more accessible and sustainable.
Crop Diversification: A Win-Win Approach for Farmers and the Environment
Crop diversification could be the key to economic and environmental resilience amid climate change and market volatility. Meet farmers from Chikkaballapur, Karnataka seeding a more sustainable future.
Policy Brief: Augmenting Farmer Income With On-farm Carbon and Water Trade-offs
Agroecology has the potential to mitigate the adverse effects of unsustainable monoculture practices. However, it encounters barriers to widespread adoption, largely due to perceived short-term sacrifices against long-term benefits.
Why Farmers’ Control on Canal Water Is Key to Solving Agrarian Distress in Raichur
Published in The Wire
How Water Shapes the Lives of Farmers in Raichur: Field Notes from Mandalgudda
We’ve been researching land and livelihoods in Raichur over the past two years. The different strands of our analyses reinforced a known fact of life in the region – that water shapes decisions and livelihoods.