I work with small farmers in Rayalseema and after 5 years of discussion, collectivisation and re-thinking the agriculture story we have some really hopeful stories. Our groundwater levels are about 800-1000 ft. bgs. Over the last 3 years we have found that a lot more farmers have adopted drip and sprinkler irrigation and particularly this year when the summer was really dry small farmers have taken loans and bought drip systems from the open market because the Government subsidy programmes did not come through. In addition rain-fed millet cultivation has increased significantly. It is a slow process but nevertheless encouraging. The key to this was collectivisation and continuous and repeated discussions with the community on water conservation.
I work with small farmers in Rayalseema and after 5 years of discussion, collectivisation and re-thinking the agriculture story we have some really hopeful stories. Our groundwater levels are about 800-1000 ft. bgs. Over the last 3 years we have found that a lot more farmers have adopted drip and sprinkler irrigation and particularly this year when the summer was really dry small farmers have taken loans and bought drip systems from the open market because the Government subsidy programmes did not come through. In addition rain-fed millet cultivation has increased significantly. It is a slow process but nevertheless encouraging. The key to this was collectivisation and continuous and repeated discussions with the community on water conservation.