Self-Reliant Initiatives through Joint Action(SRIJAN)

17/08/2026

We at were delighted to welcome Mr. Harsha Rama, Senior Portfolio Manager, Ashraya Hastha Trustt, on his second field visit to our project area in Mau, Chitrakoot. Over two days, he visited Bhoj, Murka, Turgava, and Gahur villages to review the progress of our (NRM) and livelihood interventions and interact directly with farming communities.

The visit covered tank desiltation, well renovation, solar irrigation pumps, Doha construction, check dam and dam renovation, gabion structures, and nano orchards. Farmers shared how improved water availability has strengthened agriculture, increased crop production, and encouraged collective ownership of community assets. They also highlighted that silt from tank desiltation has improved soil fertility, contributing to better yields.

At the project office, women farmers spoke about adopting vegetable cultivation and mushroom farming for the first time under the project. Communities also shared their experience of introducing green manuring for the first time, recognizing its potential to improve soil health while reducing input costs.

The visit offered valuable insights, meaningful interactions, and constructive feedback to further strengthen the project. We sincerely thank Ashraya Hastha Trust (AHT) for its continued trust, and partnership in building resilient rural communities and sustainable livelihoods.

Ashraya Hastha Trust I

Story credit- Moni Mishra

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SRIJAN AshrayaHasthaTrust RuralDevelopment NaturalResourceManagement WaterConservation ClimateResilience SustainableLivelihoods WomenEmpowerment Agriculture

14/08/2026

As celebrates its 80th , we at reaffirm our commitment to building a more , , and rural India.

As the country moves towards a cleaner and greener future, solar-powered villages and renewable energy solutions hold immense potential to strengthen rural livelihoods, improve access to essential services, and reduce dependence on conventional energy sources.

Across our geographies, SRIJAN continues to work with communities to strengthen water security, climate-resilient agriculture, sustainable livelihoods, local institutions, and community-led development.

As we look towards the future, our aspiration remains clear: to work alongside rural communities in building villages that are not only economically stronger but also climate-resilient, resource-efficient, and sustainable.

On this Independence Day, let us celebrate the spirit of freedom by renewing our commitment to a future where every rural family has the opportunity to thrive with dignity, resilience, and hope.

10/08/2026

In Neguwan village, Niwari district, , Meda Devi, a member of the Radhe Radhe Women Producer Group (WPG), is demonstrating how sustainable farming can create both environmental and economic impact. Supported by under the programme, with funding from the Azim Premji Foundation, a Bio Resource Center (BRC) was established on her farm in 2023.

The BRC was created to promote natural farming, reduce dependence on chemical fertilizers, build local capacity for preparing bio-inputs such as Jeevamrit, Ghanjeevamrit, Neemastra, and Agneyastra, and make these inputs available to farmers at affordable prices.

This Kharif season, Meda Devi successfully produced and sold quintals of Ghanjeevamrit, generating an impressive ₹65,000 in a single season. Today, her Bio Resource Center has become a trusted source of bio-inputs, with farmers from neighbouring villages regularly visiting to purchase them.

Through mobilisation, facilitation, and technical support, SRIJAN has helped create a model that restores soil health, promotes chemical-free agriculture, strengthens local livelihoods, and advances climate resilience. The initiative has already benefited 90+ farmers across 2 villages, proving that women-led enterprises can accelerate the adoption of farming practices while improving rural incomes.

Ministry of Women & Child Development, Government of India I Collector Office Niwari I Jansampark Madhya Pradesh I PRO Jansampark Niwari I

Story Credit- Farhan Ahmed



SRIJAN ClimateResilientAgriculture NaturalFarming WomenEmpowerment SustainableAgriculture BioResourceCenter ClimateAction RuralDevelopment MadhyaPradesh AzimPremjiFoundation

05/08/2026

Under 's Natural Farming and Climate Resilient Agriculture initiative, in Kolmajra village, Chitrakoot, Uttar Pradesh supported by Ashraya Hastha Trust (AHT) and implemented in convergence with KVK Ganiva, 36 women farmers across 4 villages cultivated moong on 0.4 acres each during the 2026 Zaid season—transforming unproductive land into productive farms despite limited irrigation.

The initiative combined exposure visits, scientific crop management, and hands-on training in climate resilient Farming, including the preparation of Jeevamrit, Ghan Jeevamrit, Neemastra, Agniastra, Dashparni Ark, and Brahmastra, enabling farmers to reduce cultivation costs while improving soil fertility through green manuring.

The results were encouraging. Farmers successfully demonstrated that Zaid cultivation is both feasible and profitable under water-constrained conditions. Neelam Devi harvested 2 quintals of moong, while Sushma Devi harvested 1.5 quintals from their 0.4-acre demonstration plots. Both were honoured by Shri the Agriculture Minister of Uttar Pradesh for their outstanding performance.

Beyond improved yields and additional income, the intervention has changed farmers' perceptions of the Zaid season, strengthened confidence in agriculture, and created a replicable model for climate-resilient farming.

Ashraya Hastha Trust I Ministry of Agriculture & Farmer’s Welfare, Government of India I Government of UP

Story credit - Pawan yadav



SRIJAN AshrayaHasthaTrust AHTContributes NaturalFarming ClimateResilience WomenFarmers SustainableAgriculture SoilHealth RuralDevelopment GreenManuring BIWAL

03/08/2026

Recognising Community-Led Water Conservation

Niwari team was recently acknowledged by the District Administration for its contribution to water conservation and the rejuvenation of traditional water structures under the " ".

The recognition, presented in the presence of senior district officials and public representatives,reflects an important principle of our work: convergence with government programmes and local institutions is key to achieving scale, sustainability, and lasting impact.

In the first quarter alone, the team facilitated:

• Desiltation of 5 traditional tanks

• Construction of 300+ Doha structures

• Renovation of 6 check dams

• 10+ additional tank desiltation works through convergence with district administration and Gram Panchayats.

The recognition is more than a moment of pride. It reinforces our belief that community participation, strong local institutions, and government convergence are central to building water-secure and -resilient rural landscapes.

We remain grateful to the district administration, Gram Panchayats, communities, and our field teams whose collective efforts make these transformations possible.

This recognition was received on behalf of the team by SHALINI BARJO.

Ministry of Jal Shakti, Department of Water Resources, RD & GR I Collector Office Niwari I PRO Jansampark Niwari I Jansampark Madhya Pradesh I



SRIJAN WaterConservation JalGangaSamvardhan WaterSecurity TraditionalWaterBodies ClimateResilience CommunityLedDevelopment RuralDevelopment Convergence

27/07/2026

In Jhujhai village of Karera block, Shivpuri, , a nano orchard established in 2020 under the Cluster Facilitation Team (CFT) Project is demonstrating how climate-resilient horticulture can transform the lives of smallholder farmers.

With technical support from and convergence through the erstwhile Nandan Falodyan Scheme (MGNREGA), Ramindri Lodhi, a member of the Gond Baba Women Producer Group, developed a guava and citrus that has become a reliable source of year-round income and livelihood security.

In 2026 alone, she harvested 585 kg of guava, earning ₹19,500, and 380 kg of lemons, generating ₹22,900. As the fruiting season continues, her lemon harvest is expected to reach nearly 5 quintals, further strengthening her family's income.

Beyond the numbers, the orchard has enhanced , diversified farm-based livelihoods, and inspired confidence among women farmers with small landholdings.

"This orchard has made my livelihood more secure and stable. It has helped me support my child's education and gives me a safety net during climate shocks and crop losses," says Ramindri.

Her journey highlights how thoughtful planning, government convergence, and consistent technical support can enable rural families to build livelihoods while adapting to a changing climate.

Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India I Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Government of India I Collector Shivpuri I PRO Shivpuri I Jansampark Madhya Pradesh I

Story credit- Mohit Yadav



SRIJAN VBGRAMG ClimateResilientAgriculture WomenFarmers RuralLivelihoods NanoOrchards SustainableAgriculture Horticulture mondaypositive

24/07/2026

has successfully installed a 5 HP solar-powered irrigation pump in Khadeini village, Bamaur Block, Jhansi (Uttar Pradesh), with funding support from HDFC Bank Parivartan, creating a irrigation solution for 10 women farmers.

Earlier, farmers like Pooja Devi depended on erratic rainfall, expensive diesel pumps (costing nearly ₹1,500 per bigha), making irrigation costly and crop production uncertain.

Today, the shared solar irrigation system is transforming agriculture by:

▪️ Providing reliable irrigation during critical crop stages

▪️Benefiting 10 women farmers through a community-managed model

▪️Bringing 15–20 acres under dependable irrigation

▪️Reducing cultivation costs by eliminating diesel expenses

▪️Encouraging cultivation of vegetables and other high-value crops

▪️Promoting climate-resilient, renewable energy-based farming

SRIJAN worked closely with the Village Development Committee (VDC) and beneficiary farmers to identify the site, supervise installation, and build local capacity on operation, maintenance, equitable water sharing, and efficient water management—ensuring long-term sustainability and collective ownership.

As Pooja Devi shares: "Earlier, we relied on rainfall and spent heavily on diesel for irrigation. Now, with the solar pump, we can irrigate our fields on time without diesel. Farming has become less stressful, costs have reduced, and we are confident that agriculture can provide a better income."

This initiative demonstrates how clean energy, community participation, and shared resources can strengthen while improving .

Parivartan I Ministry of Jal Shakti, Department of Water Resources, RD & GR

Story Credit- Kumari Srishti



[SRIJAN HDFCBank SolarIrrigation ClimateResilientAgriculture WomenFarmers RenewableEnergy SustainableAgriculture RuralDevelopment Fridaysparks]

22/07/2026

In Village Pipra, Baldeogarh Block of Tikamgarh district, , a simple clean-energy intervention is transforming the livelihood of Kali Bai Joshi and her family.

Before the installation of a 3 HP solar-powered irrigation pump supported by Axis Bank Foundation and promoted by , Kali Bai depended on diesel pumps and later an unreliable electricity connection for irrigating her 3-acre farm. Wheat cultivation required 6–7 irrigation cycles every season, resulting in high fuel costs and uncertainty due to irregular power supply. Timely irrigation was often difficult, affecting crop productivity and income.

To address this challenge, SRIJAN facilitated the installation of a solar irrigation system, providing a sustainable, reliable, and cost-effective solution. Since the intervention, the family has achieved year-round water security, eliminated irrigation costs related to diesel and electricity, and improved farm productivity significantly.
Wheat production increased from 35–40 quintals to nearly 65 quintals, generating an additional income of approximately ₹70,000. The assured water supply has also enabled Kali Bai to adopt multilayer farming, earning around ₹13,500 within just a few months. For the first time, the family is confidently planning to cultivate a Kharif crop (Urad), expanding their livelihood opportunities further.

As Kali Bai shares, “Earlier, we could barely recover our cultivation costs. Delayed irrigation reduced our wheat yield. Now, farming is helping us earn and plan for the future.”

This intervention demonstrates how access to clean energy and reliable irrigation can strengthen , improve incomes, and empower smallholder women farmers to invest confidently in agriculture.

Collector Tikamgarh I Jansampark Tikamgarh I Jansampark Madhya Pradesh I Ministry of Jal Shakti, Department of Water Resources, RD & GR

Story Credit - Ajit Singh



[SRIJAN AxisBankFoundation SolarIrrigation WomenFarmers SustainableAgriculture ClimateResilience RuralDevelopment Livelihoods MadhyaPradesh CleanEnergy]

20/07/2026

इस सप्ताह की 'मंडे पॉज़िटिव' श्रृंखला में जानिए हमारा ‘पशु सखी’ मॉडल केवल ग्रामीण महिलाओं को आजीविका के अवसर ही नहीं देता, बल्कि उनके आत्मसम्मान, आत्मविश्वास और सामाजिक पहचान को भी नई ऊँचाइयाँ देता है।

अधिक जानने के लिए, दैनिक भास्कर ( Dainik Bhaskar ) में प्रकाशित इस विशेष रिपोर्ट को, जो अब हमारी वेबसाइट पर उपलब्ध है, पढ़ें।

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SRIJAN PashuSakhi WomenEmpowerment RuralLivelihoods CommunityLeadership InclusiveDevelopment MondayPositive

Strengthening Women’s Livelihoods by Building Capacity in Animal Health Management, Preventive Care, and Income-Generating Practices

17/07/2026

On 10 July, a joint initiative was launched between 32 institutions—including NGOs, research institutions, universities, and startups—and the Department Of Agriculture, Rajasthan under the tagline "Collective Action – Developed Rajasthan."
This collaborative effort marks a significant step toward achieving the objectives of the National Mission on Natural Farming by fostering partnerships and promoting sustainable agricultural practices across the state.

As part of this initiative, SRIJAN signed a non-financial Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Agriculture Department to promote natural farming through awareness generation, capacity building, and field-level demonstrations. The programme will be implemented across eight blocks in six districts of Rajasthan: Karauli, Sawai Madhopur, Baran, Udaipur, Sirohi, and Pratapgarh.

Through this partnership, SRIJAN aims to strengthen farmers' knowledge and adoption of natural farming practices, contributing to sustainable agriculture and rural livelihoods.

Department Of Agriculture, RajasthanI National Coalition for Natural Farming



SRIJAN NaturalFarming SustainableAgriculture Rajasthan RuralDevelopment Agriculture CollectiveAction fridaysparks