Visiting the remote villages of Suhagpura Block, Pratapgarh district in Rajasthan recently was a journey that highlighted the challenges of accessing these isolated tribal communities. Far removed from mainstream connectivity, these villages lack public transport, leaving visitors to rely on their own vehicles or arrange private means of travel.
The villages themselves are spread out, with houses scattered at considerable distances from one another. This dispersal reflects the local custom—when children marry, they often move to live closer to their own fields, creating a landscape of isolated homes rather than clustered settlements. Navigating the paths to these widely scattered homes is a challenge in itself, as these routes are unmarked and unfamiliar to outsiders. Local residents or those with frequent experience in these areas are indispensable guides.
Amid these logistical hurdles, the villagers face even graver challenges. Water scarcity has tightened its grip, severely affecting agriculture—the backbone of their livelihoods. Many farmers are unable to cultivate significant portions of their land due to the lack of water. Even on the land they manage to farm, yields have dwindled, falling short of the high and rising costs of cultivation. These twin pressures of limited water and increasing expenses threaten the very sustainability of farming in the region.
SRIJAN, a non-profit organization, has been working in this region for the last three years across a cluster of 56 villages to enhance the livelihoods of small and marginal farmers.
Interventions by SRIJAN
1. Promotion of Natural Farming Practices
Farmers are trained to prepare eco-friendly, cost-effective bio-inputs such as Ghanjeevamrit, Jeevamrit, and Neemastra. These natural fertilizers and pesticides help reduce reliance on expensive chemical inputs, lowering costs and improving soil health, thereby making farming more sustainable and profitable.
Kesu Ram, a farmer from Talaya village, now cultivates chemical-free crops on his 1.5 bighas of land. He says, “I don’t use any weedicides or chemicals on my land. I apply only organic manures.”
2. Crop Diversification through Orchard Establishment
To move beyond risky monocropping practices, SRIJAN promotes crop diversification by planting 950 nano- orchards. Farmers are also encouraged to intercrop, enabling them to generate regular income and reduce the risks of total crop failure.
Barji, a farmer from Banjari, has established an orchard consisting of 120 guava trees, five lemon trees, and five mango trees. He also cultivates various vegetables and crops as intercrops. He shares, “I earn a good income by selling vegetables at the Suhagpura market.”
3. Natural Resource Management
To address water scarcity, 14 check dams have been constructed in streams to harvest rainwater. This stored water enables farmers to irrigate previously uncultivable land during the Rabi season, improving agricultural productivity.
4. Introduction of Sustainable Technology
SRIJAN has facilitated the adoption of modern, sustainable technologies, such as:
Twelve solar pumps were installed to enable efficient irrigation. Amba Lal, a resident of Semaliya Khurd village, shares how these pumps have transformed his farming practices. “After the installation of solar pumps, I no longer depend on electricity. I am free from the burden of electricity bills and the maintenance costs of traditional motors,” he explains.
6 GLR (Ground-Level Reservoir) tanks were installed at community level to store water for drinking, bathing etc use. Gautam from Lakhma khedi village says that earlier women have to fetch water from the distance of 500 metre from well. It had become a double burden for women, they have to do the household chores as well as agricultural activities. Now, it has become easier for women. They don’t have to walk a long distance to fetch water.
Around 390 farmers were supported with pipes and sprinkler systems to ensure optimal water utilization. Previously, farmers used flood irrigation, which not only wasted water but also caused soil erosion. Now, even in uneven and undulating fields, they can irrigate effectively while preventing soil erosion. Bhogji, a resident of Mojal village, says, “Now, our fields are irrigated well, even on uneven land. Crops are healthier, saving us money and time.”
A total of 207 solar lights were installed in villages to improve rural infrastructure and reduce dependence on conventional energy sources.
SRIJAN staff member Rajeev Kumar, Saquib along with others are helping the tribal farmers pave the way for a brighter future by ensuring improved livelihoods.
Uday Kumar Saw works as a Project Executive with SRIJAN. His research interests lie in the fields of education, livelihood, poverty and sustainable agriculture & watershed management. He has completed a Master of Arts in Social Work with a specialisation in Social Development from Jamia Millia Islamia University.
