News

Striving to maintain nutrition security: Lessons from Women’s Federations in Uttarakhand

24 April 2020

In Mangalta village, 20 women are working non-stop, packing and processing food and nutrition supplements to be distributed to the most vulnerable sections of the society - pregnant and nursing mothers, infants and children under six years. This has become even more critical during the COVID-19 lockdown period. As Babita (35), a federation functionary said, “We need to ensure the take home rations are delivered to the Anganwadi Centre (Child-care centres run under the Integrated Child Development Services or ICDS), so the workers can ensure this reaches those who need it most in these times of lockdown. We are taking all the necessary safety and precautionary measures such as maintaining physical distancing , use of sanitisers and masks and so on”.

Alternative market linkages: Response to COVID-19

23 April 2020

The 21-day long COVID-19 lockdown in India, which is now set to continue until 3 May, has undoubtedly severed market linkages. Farmers are desperate for actions that can avoid wiping out their incomes. This blog, from Dr Rekha Bhangaonkar of Flagship Project 6 , highlights some initiatives put in place to rescue the situation.

Farmer Producer Organisations could help small holder farmers overcome the effects of the COVID-19 lockdown

17 April 2020

Ground-level evidence from Tamil Nadu on the sudden disruption of supply chains for both non-perishable and perishable commodities has pointed to the adverse effects of COVID-19 on farming and farmers’ livelihoods. In Thanjavur, known as the ‘granary of south India’, and Pudukottai and Villupuram districts of Tamil Nadu state, farmers are unable to sell their produce. Without adequate storage facilities, they are staring not just at losses, but also lack of liquidity to prepare for the next planting season. In the absence of a market, or storage, many have not bothered to harvest the crop.

Recognising our farmers: Women Farmers’ Festival in Odisha

15 April 2020

The contribution of women farmers is no less than that of men, but quite often overlooked. The Odisha Millets Mission is demonstrating an ingenious way of celebrating and valuing the role of women farmers as agents of agrarian change. Dr Rekha Bhangaonkar of Flagship Project 6 recently experienced these celebrations first-hand. Here, she summarises her time in Odisha.

Broken supply chains: COVID-19 lockdown is having a devastating effect on livelihoods in rural India

5 April 2020

The 21 day lockdown of India to control the spread of COVID-19, announced by PM Narendar Modi on 24 March, is already creating lasting impacts on Indian farmers. Progressive and enterpreneurial small and marginal farmers cultivating perishable commodities are amongst the worst hit. Our interactions with farmers in the states of Telangana and Karnataka, and information sourced from news and print media, show that food supply chains for perishable foods are now completely broken. Here, the Flagship Project 1 team at ICRISAT , Hyderabad, sheds light on the dire impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on small holder farmers in India.

Rural youth aspirations: Can Indian agriculture regain the interest of rural youth?

2 April 2020

The TIGR2ESS Flagship Project 1 team at ICRISAT recently conducted a field survey at its research site villages in Warangal district. The survey used Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) and key informant interviews to engage with farmers, farm women and rural youth. One of the key questions we asked was: What are the aspirations of rural youth to continue in agriculture and farm parent’s aspirations towards their children? Here, we summarise our findings.

From pumpkin to Pina colada: Changing food culture amongst the tribal youth

18 March 2020

Changing food consumption practices among the tribal youth in India is a recent phenomenon. Job prospects and new livelihood options are influencing many lifestyle changes. Changes in food consumption bear an impact on the health and well-being of the youth. Moreover, the decline of traditional ecological knowledge is a worrying trend from a sustainable food systems approach. Here, Dr Anuprita Shukla of Flagship Project 6 discusses her research focused on the tribal youth of Maharashtra.

TIGR2ESS programme shaping state-level policy intervention for agri-business in Punjab

11 March 2020

On Thursday 5 March 2020 TIGR2ESS Flagship Project (FP) 5 held a workshop on policy interventions for agri-business in Punjab. This event, held at Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) , Ludhiana, was co-hosted by key members of FP5, Dr Sandeep Kapur (PAU) and Dr Jag Srai (University of Cambridge), and chaired by PAU Vice Chancellor Dr BS Dhillon. In attendance were key state government officials, including Suresh Kumar (Chief Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister), Viswajeet Khanna (Additional Chief Secretary, Development), and leaders from the major state Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) and Cooperatives.

Revitalizing Natural Water Sources in Rural Punjab: Village Ponds

4 March 2020

Amidst the ongoing debate about mismatched demand and supply of water for farm use, alongside escalating cost of irrigation in rural Punjab, disused village ponds – and surface water in general – are now being promoted as a cost-effective incremental water source. Here, Dr Shruti Bhogal from Flagship Project 4 , based at the Centres for International Projects Trust, New Delhi, discusses the importance of reviving these ponds as a sustainable water source for the future.

Tribal food festivals - reviving a forgotten heritage

28 February 2020

Food festivals represent an important part of tribal food culture. They are an opportunity to celebrate food heritage; by sharing this heritage with the wider world there is scope to build economic prosperity in often forgotten about villages. Here, Dr. Rekha Bisht Sirola, TIGR2ESS Flagship Project 6 Post-doctoral research associate, from IIT Bombay, Mumbai , shares the rich cultural experiences on offer.