A small house, a plot of land, and a backyard garden with some vegetables. If you live in Massar village in Eastern West Khasi Hills of Meghalaya, chances are that you possess these assets to sustain your family. A subsistence form of agriculture is followed, which is erratic based on climate change. This type of lifestyle only helps you to exist and survive but not progress. Any eventuality or unforeseen situation can disrupt this tender balance

To enhance food security and resilience among smallholder farmers, Caritas India recently hosted a two-day Partner Review Cum Reflection Meeting for the Smallholder Adaptive Farming & Biodiversity Network (SAFBIN) III program. Held on July 30-31, 2024, at the MVSS Centre in Sagar, Madhya Pradesh, the meeting brought together key partners, including Manav Vikas Seva Sangh (MVSS) and Jabalpur Diocesan Social Development Society (JDSSS), to reflect

The 200-odd households of Dhamnod earned their living by selling farm produce to traders who would visit the village every week. The villagers received very little profit because they had no alternative other than selling their produce to middlemen who would pocket most of the earnings. The absence of a local market caused a double financial drain for the community in this remote village in Vidisha district of Madhya Pradesh. “We had to spend a

On the early morning of Tuesday, July 30, 2024, a series of catastrophic landslides struck the hilly regions near Meppadi in Kerala's Wayanad district, resulting in significant loss of life and widespread destruction. The landslides, which occurred between 2 AM and 4 AM, have caused 295 fatalities (as of August 1, 2024, 7:14 PM) and left several people missing. The most severely impacted areas include Mundakai, Chooralmala, Attamala, and Noolpuzha

Caritas India, with Shanti Sadhbhavna Vikas Manch, demonstrated solidarity with Kanwar pilgrims through a three-day camp in Saharanpur and Muzaffarnagar districts of western Uttar Pradesh. The initiative aimed to serve pilgrims traveling to Haridwar from various states, including Bihar, Maharashtra, Jharkhand, Punjab, Haryana, and Madhya Pradesh. Over fifteen thousand pilgrims were offered fruits and energy drinks by volunteers, Peace Club children,

To ensure yearlong dietary diversity for families, especially children and women, Caritas India’s Khushaal Bachpan program has launched a significant initiative called "Poshan Vatika" (Nutrition Gardens). This initiative, operating in five districts of Chhattisgarh (Raigarh, Surguja, Jashpur, Raipur, and Bastar), aims to improve nutrient deficiency among socioeconomically backward sections of the country. Nutritional deficiencies are particularly

Native chickens are integral to backyard or free-range farming systems in India. Historically overlooked for their low production potential, they are now gaining importance due to rising demand for their meat and eggs, which consumers perceive as healthier and are willing to pay more for. These chickens are hardy, thriving in adverse climatic conditions, and show resistance to bacterial and parasitic diseases. Research on these breeds in intensive

India stands as the world's second-largest tea producer, with the Assam state holding the crown as the largest tea-growing region globally. The tea industry is a cornerstone of the Indian economy, employing an estimated 3.5 million people, most of whom are women. Assam alone contributes over half of India's tea production, yielding between 630 and 700 million kg of tea annually. However, the idyllic image of tea gardens often masks the harsh realities