At the heart of India’s struggle against climate change lies a simple yet profound challenge: to create a model of farming that is not only climate-resilient but also readily embraced by small farmers. For such a model to spread widely, acceptance at the grassroots is essential. In the Bundelkhand region, one organization’s quiet, persistent efforts are showing how this can be done—not through grand gestures, but through a deep, collaborative engagement with the land and its people.
Arunoday Sansthaan (AS), a grassroots organization working in some of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh’s most challenging terrains, has developed a promising approach. Its model rests on five pillars: water conservation, natural farming, crop diversification, tree planting, and the active involvement of women farmers. In recent years, this work has been strengthened through close cooperation with the SRIJAN organization, though AS had already been laying the groundwork for over two decades.
The organization’s journey began in the dune-like, water-scarce landscape of Kutra village in Mahoba district, Uttar Pradesh. As a young organization, AS took on the formidable task of soil and water conservation on a shoestring budget. By securing strong community participation, it completed the work to the satisfaction of both villagers and technical experts. Visitors at the time predicted a bright future for the fledgling group.
That early success opened doors. Despite initially receiving a de-silting and tank-cleaning assignment on difficult terms, AS delivered results that caught the attention of NITI Aayog. From that modest beginning, the organization has now overseen the cleaning and restoration of nearly 210 water tanks across widely scattered villages, most of them in Chhatarpur district, Madhya Pradesh.
Beyond tank restoration, AS has worked systematically to improve village water security. Teams have dug standardized ditches—locally called dohas—in water channels, repaired check dams, renovated wells, built farm ponds, and constructed field bunds. In some villages, efforts have focused specifically on improving drinking water supplies.
These water conservation efforts have been complemented by a major push for tree planting. Using the Miyawaki method, AS has helped establish dense, native tapovans (forest gardens) alongside small fruit orchards and community plantations. According to Abhishek Mishra, director of Antyoday, around two lakh trees have been planted through AS programs so far, with a consistently good survival rate.
The fertile silt recovered from de-silted tanks has also proved invaluable. It has given a fertile foundation to the natural farming practices that AS has been promoting extensively. Farmers are trained in natural farming techniques, supported by a network of centers that produce biofertilizers and pest repellents. Tool banks offer alternatives to expensive, fuel-intensive machinery, and farmers receive help in accessing quality seeds. Demonstration plots showcase the viability of natural farming, while practices such as multi-layer gardens and small orchards on marginal plots have become especially popular. AS supports these with materials like bamboo, ropes, seeds, and saplings.
The results are visible in both livelihoods and well-being. Farmers report higher incomes alongside better nutrition, thanks to a steady supply of healthy, diverse vegetables. With mixed cropping, improved crop rotations, and the replacement of chemical inputs with biofertilizers, soil health is steadily improving. Perhaps most tellingly, many farmers now find that their productivity has increased even as their costs have fallen.
Local success stories are multiplying. Ramesh Dada is now widely recognized as a model farmer. Mahendra Patel, who had nearly given up on farming, has returned with renewed enthusiasm. Even in areas often dismissed as hopelessly backward, farmers like Keta Ahirwar and Bharat Bhushan are achieving inspiring results.
Small farmers and landless households have also gained from efforts to promote goat-based livelihoods, with village women trained to provide basic veterinary care. More recently, the Gaurihar Women Farmer Producer Company was launched to help farmers access better incomes through value-added products such as multigrain nutritious flour, daliya, ready-to-cook pulses, and papad—a popular Indian snack.
What is taking shape in Bundelkhand is more than a set of interventions. It is a coherent model—one that integrates climate resilience with genuine, many-sided improvements in rural life. And it carries a simple but crucial endorsement: it is a model that ordinary farmers are happy to accept.
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The writer is Honorary Convener, Campaign to Save Earth Now. His recent books include India’s Quest for Sustainable Farming and Healthy Food, Protecting Earth for Children, Man over Machine, and When the Two Streams Met.
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