The terrain of Kotwariya Mal village of Khandwa District, Madhya Pradesh is very undulating. Agriculture has become a herculin task for farmers. For Raju, one of the residents of the village, it is a question of survival. His 5 acres of land cannot fulfill his family needs as most of his field is filled with stones and boulders and can not be used to its full potential.

Every year the rains erode the fertile soil and reduce its productivity. The family had to often migrate seasonally to make the ends meet.

Distressed with the situation, Raju during a Knowledge and Work initiative meeting of Caritas India Sabal programme expressed his willingness to amend his field, so he could utilize his complete land. The villagers agreed to help him by voluntarily contributing their time and labor. The Nutritional Health Worker, Santosh Kajle assured women that instead of wages they will be incentivized with grains, lentils, and oil.

In hot summer months, 40 villagers sweated to erect the land bund on Raju’s field. They picked up the idle stones and stacked them on the farm boundary to stop soil erosion. They installed 212 meters long land bund and waited for the rains.

The land was treated, and it had greater than before the area cleared up for sowing. Now, he has complete 5 acres of land to his disposal for agriculture.  Raju says, “Sabal walon ki madat se mera khet bahut achha hogaya hai… is baar achi kheti bhi hui aur barish ka pani se mitti bhi behkar nhi gayi”

The entire family worked hard to sow and weed the field. They have now bountiful crop swaying in the field and if nothing goes adverse, they may reap abundantly. The family did not migrate this year.