*MESSAGE FROM NATIONAL COORDINATOR*

🌥️Strengthening Rainfed Agriculture - Making Rainfed India More Resilient🌱

Message from the National Coordinator

Dear Colleagues and Partners of the RRA Network,

The April Edition of our newsletter reflects the shared pulse of the land and our actions across the country. From seed characterisation trainings in Hamirpur to multi-cropping systems in Nashik, from millet entrepreneurship in Hyderabad to policy engagement in New Delhi, we are seeing the network of rainfed India growing more interconnected, diverse, and grounded in lived realities.

We are particularly excited to introduce the Rainfed Calendar, a living chronicle of community festivals, agricultural cycles, and cultural practices. This is not just a visual artefact—it is a call to weave our work in research, practice, and policy with Indigenous knowledge systems, seasonal logic, and the wisdom of those who have always adapted with the soil and skies. With symbols of rain-calling rituals in Telangana and seed-sharing Suggi celebrations in Karnataka, the calendar reminds us to listen—to the land, to people, and to time.

Our agenda for April 2025—“Transforming Rainfed Areas into Hubs of Resilience, Nutrition Security, and Economic Growth”—has already begun to echo in our partnerships. The national consultation on SDG VNR 2025, major training collaborations on animal-drawn mechanisation and pastoral enumeration, and field-level millet mobilisation are just some of the ways we are advancing that vision together.

As the RRA Foundation begins its journey, we reaffirm our shared commitment to build networks, not silos; to exchange knowledge, not impose solutions; and to grow rainfed futures with dignity, equity, and rootedness.

Let’s move forward—with rhythm, resilience, and relationship.

In solidarity,

Dr. Sabyasachi Das
National Coordinator
Revitalising Rainfed Agriculture Network (RRA Network)

Aligning Rhythms of Nature & Practice: Launch of the Rainfed Calendar – April 2025

As April's warmth deepens, rainfed communities turn to ancient rhythms—sowing, feeding, and conserving—through festivals like Akhatij, Sitla Saptami, Chaitri Mela, and Desi Munas. These practices blend tradition with adaptation, responding to shifting rainfall, heatwaves, and fodder stress.

This month’s Rainfed Calendar captures how communities—from Rajasthan to Andhra Pradesh—are reweaving local food systems, pastoral migration, and water governance into climate resilience.

🌀 The calendar is part of RRA Network’s effort to deepen practice, research, and policy with traditional and Indigenous knowledge systems.

📌 Let’s document, learn, and circulate this wisdom—together.

📌 Highlights from the Past Events

National Consultation on India’s Voluntary National Review (VNR) 2025 Held in New Delhi

📍 India International Centre, New Delhi | March , 2025A National Consultation on India’s Voluntary National Review (VNR) 2025 for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) was convened by the United Nations, FAO, and NITI Aayog, with WASSANIndia as the organiser, in collaboration with Revitalising Rainfed Agriculture Network (RRAN), Coalition for Food-Systems Transformation in India (CoFTI), and National Coalition for Natural Farming (NCNF).The multi-stakeholder event brought together policymakers, CSOs, and grassroots leaders to integrate community voices into the national SDG reporting process. Shaloo Kolhe from the Foundation for Economic and Ecological Development and Sajal Kulkarni from the Maharashtra RRA Network represented perspectives from rainfed and smallholder farming communities.

🔍 Key themes included:

●     Localisation of SDGs in rainfed areas
●     Barriers to inclusive development in rural India
●     Recommendations for policy coherence with agroecological priorities

This national consultation marks a vital step in aligning ground realities with global commitments, ensuring that the voices of rainfed and marginalised communities shape India's SDG narrative.

🌾 Highlights from the India Humanitarian Hub Convening
on 7th March 2025 🌿

On 7th March 2025, Mr. Abhishek Saxena represented Revitalising Rainfed Agriculture Network at the India Humanitarian Hub (IHH) convening. The event focused on expanding network membership, refining governance structures, and reimagining the vision and mission throughcollaborative exercises.

Mr. Saxena participated in an insightful panel on “Harnessing Nature-Based Solutions & Indigenous Knowledge for Climate Resilience,” alongside experts like Prof. Anil Kumar Gupta, Harjeet Singh, Nishanie Jayamaha, Shivika Solanki, and Monisha Majumdar. The discussion highlighted integrated and organic farming practices, climate change challenges, and the risks faced by indigenous communities and farmers.

Key takeaways from Mr. Saxena’s participation:

🌱 Viewing climate change as a continuum, not just a disaster

🌱 Focusing on resilience-building over aid.

🌱Showcasing RRA Network's successful collaborations with ICAR institutions and the government, with examples like Sahaja and Desi seed FPC, APCNF, and RamMol cropping systems.

It was also a great opportunity to connect with like-minded professionals, including meeting a fellow IRMAn from the (re)insurance sector with innovative AQI-linked pollution insurance.

The event was a fantastic chance to learn, share, and explore new collaborations for a more resilient future!

Advancing Animal-Drawn Mechanisation: National Training at VNMKV, Parbhani

📍 Maharashtra | March 20–21, 2025

The Revitalising Rainfed Agriculture Network, in collaboration with ICAR-AICRP on Mechanisation of Animal Husbandry (MAH) and Vasantrao Naik Marathwada Krishi Vidyapeeth (VNMKV), successfully organised a National Training-cum-Demonstration on improved animal-drawn implements for production and value addition.

🔧 Key Highlights:

40+ farmer-friendly tools for sowing, inter-cultivation, spraying, and harvesting showcased.
Bullock-drawn implements included the Mouth Lasing Machine, Crop Planter, Solar Sprayer, Stubble Collector, Turmeric Digger, and semi-automatic feeding systems.
Farmers from Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra engaged in field trials and hands-on training.

💬 Key Speakers:

Indra Mani (VC, VNMKV): Emphasised participatory innovation and low-cost tools for smallholders.
Maharani Din (RRA Network): Highlighted the cost-saving and ecological significance of DAP-based mechanisation in rainfed systems.
Dayanand Tekale (HoD, Farm Machinery): Reaffirmed VNMKV’s role in scaling farmer-led adoption.

⚙️ Farmer Engagement: Interactive demonstrations featured innovations in sustainable mechanisation—solar sprayers, turmeric diggers, cattle grooming units—placing climate-resilient technologies within farmers’ reach.

🤝 Coordination Team:

Led by Er. A.A. Waghamare, with support from Deepak Yende, Pradip Mokashe, Rupesh Kakde, Mangesh Khade, Smt. Pawar Bai, Mridul Ganguly, and Rajiv Gupta (RRA Network).
This national training marks a vital step in making DAP-centric tools accessible through custom hiring models and partnerships with rural fabricators—fueling climate-resilient innovation in India’s rainfed regions.

Bundelkhand RRA network collaboration with RLBCAU, Jhansi: A discussion was held with Dr. Anil Kumar Singh (Director, Education) and Dr. Amit Kumar Singh (Associate Professor) to align on the upcoming Kharif planning workshop and the proposed MoU collaboration.

Mapping Mobility: Facilitating the Pastoral Livestock Census in Maharashtra

📍 Amravati, Nagpur, Chandrapur, and Bhandara | March 2025

Throughout March, the Maharashtra RRA Network and Working Group on Extensive Livestock and Pastoral Production Systems, in collaboration with the Animal Husbandry Department, Government of Maharashtra, facilitated pastoral livestock enumeration across Amravati, Nagpur, Chandrapur, and Bhandara districts.

🔹 Communities Engaged:

Raika, Bharwad, Rabbari, and Kurmar pastoral groups
Outreach included sensitisation, coordination, and documentation support

🔹 Key Focus:

Ensuring inclusion of migratory livestock in the 21st Livestock Census
Supporting ground-level enumerators in identifying and engaging with nomadic pastoralists
Creating localised awareness to bridge administrative and community understanding

This collaborative effort marks a significant step toward institutional recognition of pastoral systems and migratory livestock routes—both central to sustainable livestock-based livelihoods in Maharashtra’s forest-fringe and rainfed regions.

Strengthening Community-Led Seed Systems & Millet Promotion

Krishi Sakhis as Judges at Block-Level Nutrition Festival

As part of Poshan Utsav 2025, Krishi Sakhis were invited to serve as judges for a nutritious cooking competition organised by the Women and Child Development (WCD) Department in Dediapada. Dishes prepared with millets were evaluated based on ingredients and presentation. The event also served to raise awareness about ongoing efforts with women farmers to promote millet cultivation and inclusion in daily diets.

🌱 Kharif 2025 Planning with Program Partners
A virtual meeting was convened with three program partners working across five blocks to plan for the upcoming Kharif season. Discussions focused on the selection of women farmers, number of seed production plots, and crops planned. This collaborative approach is key to strengthening seed systems and millet production in the region.

🚜 Field Visit to Meghraj Block: Expanding the Network
A field visit was conducted to Meghraj block, where a new partner organisation expressed readiness to begin millet and seed system work. The visit facilitated dialogue with local leaders and Krishi Sakhis to design a tailored work plan.

📘 Women Farmer Profiles Developed
The Gujarat team is developing farmer profiles to highlight the contributions of women in natural farming and seed conservation. So far, 12 profiles have been documented, showcasing indigenous seed practices and ecological resilience.

🧑🏽‍🔬 WGoM Coordination Meeting
The Working Group on Millets (WGoM) conducted a virtual coordination meeting to discuss ecosystem challenges and plan a state-level CSO workshop on millet promotion in Gujarat.

🌾 Voices from the Ground at Gender & Agroecology National Workshop
Usha Vasava, one of Gujarat’s champion women farmers participated in the Gender & Agroecology workshop held in Delhi in March 2025. She shared her lived experiences and the challenges of practicing Natural Farming—adding powerful grassroots perspectives to the national dialogue.

Building Local Seed Knowledge: Wheat Characterisation Trainings Promotion

Advancing community-led science in seed conservation

📍 Hamirpur, Himachal Pradesh | 30–31 March 2025, Organised by HimRRA and WASSAN

A two-day intensive training was conducted at the District Agriculture Office in Hamirpur, Himachal Pradesh, to equip Community-Managed Seed Systems (CMSS) Fellows with scientific skills in wheat characterisation and passport data collection.

Facilitated by resource persons from WASSAN and HimRRA—including Mr. Soumik Banerjee, Mr. Anoop Kumar, Mr. Mansuk Gudia, and Mr. Shubhadeep Mondal—the training brought together fellows from RTDC, Pahad Trust, SRDA, Karsog FPC, Subash Palekar SHGs and others.

🧩 Hands-on components included:

Fieldwork at the Lailit Kalia CDB plot
Group-wise data presentation
Sessions on Participatory Varietal Selection (PVS)
Reflection on regional agricultural challenges

Media partners also engaged with farmer participants to amplify the efforts of traditional seed revival in Himachal. The training enhanced seed documentation capacity and set the stage for expanded community-led seed conservation efforts in the Kharif season.

📍 Atarra, Bundelkhand, Uttar Pradesh | 6–7 March 2025, Organised by WASSAN with Jaivik Gram Gaushala

In the Bundelkhand region, CMSS Fellows gathered at Jaivik Gram, Atarra, for a similar wheat characterisation training focused on scientific documentation of indigenous wheat varieties.

Participants from nine NGOs—including Akhil Bhartiya Samaj Sewa Sansthan, Yuva Kaushal Vikas Mandal, Darshana Mahila Kalyan Samiti, Abhyuday Sansthaan, Manav Jeevan Vikas Samiti, and others—engaged in practical and interactive sessions under the guidance of Mr. Soumik Banerjee, Mr. Rajeev Gupta, and Mr. Shubhadeep Mondal.

Key sessions focused on:

🌾 Historical context of traditional wheat varieties
📋 Passport data methodology
🔬 Field-based characterisation of 13 wheat traits
🗣️ Peer-to-peer group presentations and feedback

🌱 Fellows concluded the training by reflecting on regional needs and committing to community-led promotion of indigenous crops in the upcoming Kharif cycle.

Maharashtra’s Rainfed Farmers Reclaim Their Traditions through Multi-Cropping Systems

📍 Nashik | March 11, 2025

The Working Group on Cropping Systems (WGoCS), in collaboration with Green Foundation and WASSAN, organised a one-day multi-stakeholder workshop in Nashik to explore climate-resilient multi-cropping systems (MICS) rooted in Maharashtra's agroecological traditions. The event brought together over 40 participants, including farmers, women’s collectives, CSOs, researchers, youth groups, and officials.

Highlights from the Workshop:

Farmers from Wardha, Hingoli, Gadchiroli, Melghat, and Nashik showcased systems such as Paata, Aaghat, Baradhanya, Raab, and Iraba cropping.
MICS approaches demonstrated the use of 17–29 crop combinations to ensure food, fodder, and income security, while conserving soil and water.
Presentations reflected the strength of intergenerational seed knowledge, the role of livestock in nutrient cycling, and the efficiency of bullock-drawn implements.

Key Themes Discussed:

🔸 Seeds: The power of women-led seed conservation and region-specific cropping strategies.

🔸 Livestock: Livestock as an anchor for economic resilience and nutrient integration.

🔸 Implements: Adaptation of DAP tools to support labour-sensitive farming systems.

Recommendations for Scaling MICS:

This workshop reaffirmed the call for locally rooted, ecologically responsive systems that go beyond monoculture economics—reviving farming as a culture of care, diversity, and climate resilience.

📢 A concept note based on the workshop is under development for strategic institutional collaboration

Document diverse cropping systems across 5 agroecological zones.
Align cultivation with community nutrition, soil health, and livelihood outcomes.
Submit a concept note to the Tribal Development Corporation to promote MICS in tribal regions.
Focus on the “5Cs”: Conservation, Cultivation, Consumption, Commercialisation, and Collective Action.

Field Festival Celebrates Native Wheat Diversity in Dharwad 🌾

📍 Malali village, Kundgol taluk, Dharwad | March 10, 2025

A vibrant Field Festival organised by Sahaja Samrudha and the Revitalising Rainfed Agriculture Network brought together farmers, scientists, and seed custodians to celebrate native wheat diversity in the fields of Chandrappa Hadimani. The event showcased 42 traditional wheat varieties, reinforcing the critical role of indigenous crops in climate-resilient farming systems.

Dr. R.R. Hanchinal, former Vice Chancellor of UAS Dharwad, addressed the gathering and emphasised the need for consumer awareness and policy support to conserve and promote native grains. Farmers shared insights on seed selection, cultivation practices, and the unique traits of traditional wheat, inspiring cross-learning and knowledge exchange.

The festival served as a reminder of the deep agroecological and cultural roots of native crops, and the need to safeguard seed sovereignty for future generations.

📽️ In Focus: Recognising the Gaolao Breeders Association through Documentary Inauguration 🎬

Date: March 25, 2025

Event: National Consultation – "Samaj, Samvad, aur Kathanak Samagam"

Venue: India Habitat Centre, New Delhi

As part of the National Consultation on Social Civic Action for Farming, Food Security, and Livelihoods, the Gaolao Breeders Association was recognised through the formal inauguration of a powerful video documentary. The film celebrates the association's pivotal role in conserving the Gaolao breed, sustaining rainfed pastoral livelihoods, and linking community-led conservation with national livestock development agendas.

📽️ Watch the film: Gaolao Breeders Association Documentary

The documentary was screened in front of a diverse gathering of CSO leaders, policymakers, journalists, and pastoral representatives from across the country. It highlighted the distinct work of the Gaoli pastoral community of Maharashtra, showcasing their rich cultural heritage, ecological wisdom, and traditional knowledge systems in breeding and caring for this unique indigenous cattle breed.The screening was followed by an engaging dialogue on the role of civil society in mainstreaming pastoral systems, reinforcing the value of community-based breed conservation and policy engagement to sustain livestock biodiversity in rainfed regions.

🧭 Way Forward:

The event laid the foundation for future collaborations with livestock departments, civil society, and researchers to promote decentralised livestock governance, community institutions, and pastoral policy representation.

📢 The RRA Network reaffirms its commitment to supporting pastoral communities and elevating their stories to shape inclusive livestock policies and conservation efforts.

Documenting Local Wisdom: Millet Practices from Haveri District

📍 Haveri, Karnataka | March 28, 2025

As part of its initiative to develop region-specific Packages of Practices (PoPs) for millets, the Working Group on Millets (WGoM) has begun documenting cultivation practices in Haveri district, where little millet, foxtail millet, and browntop millet are widely grown during the Rabi and Zaid seasons.A training programme on “Best Organic Practices for Millet Cropping” was jointly organised by ICAR-KVK Hanumanamatti, Sahaja Samrudha, and WGoM on March 28, 2025.

👨‍🌾 Participation:

35 farmers (including 10 women) from across Haveri actively contributed.
A participatory documentation session captured farmer experiences in little millet cultivation, facilitated by Mr. Ishwar (Program Coordinator) and Mr. Nishant Bankapur.

🔍 Knowledge Sharing by Experts:

Dr. Siddagangamma K. R. (Agronomist): Importance of millets and sustainable cropping practices.
Dr. Basamma Hadimani (Plant Protection): Organic pest & disease control methods.
Mr. Nishant Bankapur: Millet intercropping, mixed cropping, and multi-cropping systems.
Dr. Krishna Nayak (Soil Science): Techniques for compost enrichment to boost soil fertility.

🌿 Traditional Cropping Patterns Observed:

Kharif: Millets + Groundnut/Pulses (Redgram, Greengram) or Maize monocrop.
Rabi: Little millet intercropped with mustard.
Zaid: Little millet with cowpea or browntop millet.

This field engagement is a step toward co-developing PoPs rooted in farmer knowledge and agroecological resilience—laying the foundation for improved millet productivity and sustainability in rainfed systems.

Millet Mentor Shines at National Millet Kisan Mela & Industry Meet 2025

📍 Hyderabad | March 3–4, 2025

The Millet Mentor program, co-anchored by SELCO Foundation and WASSAN, made a powerful impact at the National Millet Kisan Mela & Industry Meet 2025, a vibrant platform convening over 2,500 farmers, entrepreneurs, and stakeholders in the millet value chain.

🔹 Celebrating Entrepreneurial Success: Entrepreneurs and FPOs supported under the Millet Mentor initiative successfully marketed their millet-based products during the two-day event—establishing new buy-back arrangements, digital marketplace connections, and strategic collaborations with large-scale and export buyers.

🔹 Technology-Driven Transformation: The exhibit featured cutting-edge Decentralised Renewable Energy (DRE)-based innovations by the program’s core technology partners—demonstrating cost-effective and energy-efficient tools for millet cultivation, primary, and secondary processing.

🔹 Recognition & Path Forward: The Millet Mentor Pavilion was honoured with the Best Exhibitor Stall Award, validating its role in building a climate-resilient, inclusive millet ecosystem. This recognition reflects the program’s commitment to enhancing livelihoods and unlocking the potential of climate-smart millets across India.

🛤️ Looking Ahead: The leads and partnerships generated at the event will feed into the next phase of the Millet Mentor ecosystem strategy—supporting value chains that integrate nutrition, income security, healthcare, and climate resilience.

🤝 Special Thanks: To the entrepreneurs, FPO leaders, tech partners, and the organising team for advancing the millet movement—one innovation, one collaboration at a time.

Building Local Ecosystems: Final Millet Mentor ToT Concludes!

On March 21, 2025, the Millet Mentor Training of Trainers (ToT) webinar series culminated in its final session. Participants from four regional enterprises completed the programme, equipping themselves to guide and strengthen millet processing and value chains across their communities.

These newly trained mentors will now be integrated into the Millet Mentor platform, supporting on-ground enterprises with technical and operational assistance. The initiative marks a key step in decentralising knowledge, growing local entrepreneurship, and scaling millet economies in rainfed areas.

📍 A step closer to resilient, nutrition-led livelihoods!

📩 For RRA Network Partners:

If your organisation has stories, updates, or insights related to rainfed agriculture, we warmly invite you to share them with us for inclusion in upcoming editions of the RRA Network Newsletter. Your contributions help amplify the voices of communities and deepen our collective understanding of diverse practices across India’s rainfed landscapes.

Kindly write to: bhavik@wassan.org

Let’s continue nourishing this shared space—And strengthen the rainfed futures! 🌱

We hope you enjoyed reading these. Thank you once again for being on this journey with us.

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