India is one of the world’s fastest growing economies, but has massive disparities in income, health and education.  The indigenous tribal communities that call India’s central Bundekhand region home are among the nation’s most socially and economically disadvantaged peoples.  Throughout Bundekhand, 75% of families rely on agriculture and livestock for their livelihoods.  Yet in recent years, climate change and erratic weather patterns have led to large-scale erosion and prolonged periods of drought.  As a result, farmers have experienced a 58% decline in crop production, and women are forced to walk long distances to fetch water.  

One Day’s Wages is partnering with Haritika – an NGO that focuses on pro-poor initiatives in the Bundekhand region – to improve water conservation and crop production in 5 tribal communities in Madyha Pradesh.  The goal of the project is to sustainably manage groundwater resources by conserving and protecting aquifers and by adopting community-based water resource management.  To reach this goal, Haritika will construct a stop dam and ponds that increase water storage; support farmers to construct bunds that retain water in their fields; coach farmers on climate-smart agriculture; distribute fruit trees for reforestation and income generation; and mobilize Village Development Committees responsible for resource management. This integrated approach to water and soil conservation will improve crop yields and income for 800 marginalized farmers from tribal communities.