Watershed Support Services and Activities Network - Wassan

05/12/2025

Celebrating World Soil Day: Advancing Natural Farming in Bhamini

On the occasion of World Soil Day, we are happy to share the progress of the Natural Farming (NF) Cotton Programme in Bhamini mandal, Manyam district.

The programme is helping farmers improve soil health, reduce cultivation costs, increase crop diversity, and strengthen their livelihoods. It highlights how natural farming practices are enhancing soil vitality, making farms more resilient, and contributing to positive ecological outcomes.

We thank HDFC Bank Parivartan for supporting farmers in their transition towards a low-cost, healthy, and sustainable farming model.

https://wassan.org/case-studies/

21/11/2025

On World Fisheries Day 2025, we celebrate the people, ponds, and practices that keep our blue ecosystems alive. A tribute to community-led “Blue Transformation.”

21/11/2025

🌱 Innovation in Action: Transforming Sowing Practices with Manual Seeders! 🌾💡

We recently conducted an R&D assessment on the manual seeder, and the results are truly encouraging:

Traditional Sowing vs. Manual Seeder (1 Acre Maize):
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👥 Labour: 5 people ➡️ 1 person
⏱ Time: 6 hours ➡️ 3 hours
🌾 Seed Rate: 6 kg ➡️ 6–6.5 kg
💰 Cost: ₹1500 ➡️ ₹600 (including rent)

Farmers are thrilled with this intervention and have already begun adopting manual seeder technology on a wider scale. Each acre now saves ₹1000 and half the time, making sowing more efficient and economical.

We first introduced single-row seeders and, based on farmer feedback, collaborated with local fabricators to develop double-row seeders. Five units have already been deployed—all fully operational and in high demand during the sowing season. ✨

🔧 Special Highlight:
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Mr. Ganesh, an AMC technician from Oruvai, gained hands-on skills in farm tool innovation and repair through HDFC Bank Parivartan project-supported trainings in Anantapur and Garladinne. Using these newly acquired skills, he launched a service center in Oruvai Gram Panchayat and successfully fabricated the double-row seeders now benefitting farmers.

21/11/2025

🌧️ Enhancing Rural Livelihoods Through Rainfed Ponds
Insights from NC-AP (2024–25)

Rainfed ponds are emerging as powerful assets in strengthening rural income and nutrition. Tribal women, in particular, have shown remarkable enthusiasm for fisheries in seasonal waterbodies—motivated by promising yields that make small-scale fish farming a reliable source of supplementary income.

In 2024, farmers recorded an impressive average fish production of 480 kg per acre of water spread area. WASSANIndia has played a key enabling role by training local youth to map small waterbodies and assess their potential for fisheries. This effort has empowered tribal youth to identify 1,815 waterbodies and initiate fish ecosystem services across their districts.

Ministry of Agriculture & Farmer’s Welfare, Government of India Centre for Science and Environment

31/10/2025

17/09/2025

"Remembering Shri B.N. Yugandhar, Founder & Managing Trustee (1999–2004), whose vision & values laid the foundation of Watershed Support Services and Activities Network - Wassan. His legacy of equity & empowerment continues to guide our work with rainfed, tribal & marginalized communities.

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14/09/2025

Remembering the Enduring Legacy of Shri B.N. Yugandhar
_Founder & Managing Trustee (1999–2004)

This video is a humble tribute to Shri B.N. Yugandhar, whose vision, values, and commitment laid the foundation for our journey. Building on his legacy, Watershed Support Services and Activities Network - Wassan continues to work for communities in rainfed, tribal, and marginalized regions, carrying forward his mission of equity and empowerment.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to Ravindra Sir’s daughter for preparing this video.

03/09/2025

Empowering Women Entrepreneurs: Building Success, One Grain at a Time! 🌾✨

On 1st and 2nd September, Watershed Support Services and Activities Network - Wassan organized an engaging Financial Literacy Session for the incredible Women Self-Help Groups (SHGs) running millet-based food enterprises in the tribal areas of Parvatipuram Manyam district, Andhra Pradesh.

During the session, the women:

✅ Learned the essentials of bookkeeping through hands-on activities to maintain purchase and sales records.
✅ Explored the importance of customer feedback in building lasting relationships.
✅ Understood the basics of costing and pricing to set fair prices for their millet products.
✅ Discussed savings and investments for long-term growth.
✅ Practiced negotiation skills through lively role plays with vendors.

They discovered that even small steps—like keeping accurate records and following up with customers—can lay the foundation for a strong, sustainable business. 💪🌱



Aspire for Her GAME - Global Alliance for Mass Entrepreneurship

Aspire For Her Women Economic Empowerment Program GAME - Global Alliance for Mass Entrepreneurship

01/09/2025

Regenerating Gulletivada Village: Community-Led Landscape Planning

Watershed Support Services and Activities Network - Wassan, in partnership with local CSOs, is promoting regenerative landscapes in North Coastal Andhra Pradesh to boost both ecological and economic sustainability in tribal villages. On 29th August 2025, a landscape planning exercise was held in Gulletivada village in VR Puram mandal in Alluri Seetharamaraju District of Andhra Pradesh using ePRA and Phasal Chakra tools. The community mapped resources including farmland, forests, streams, farm ponds, borewells, Palmyra and Mahua trees, wild fruits, honey, and livestock. Uplands grow cashew, sesame, and pulses, while drylands host eucalyptus, rainfed paddy, pulses, and oilseeds, with 15 farmers practicing natural farming on 15 acres.

Key action points include developing fisheries in farm ponds, rejuvenating water structures for Rabi crops, planting fodder on bunds, and adding shade-tolerant crops to cashew plantations. The exercise brought together 50 community members, local leaders, women, and representatives from Agriculture, Health, NREGS, RySS, Velugu, ASDS, and WASSAN, marking a strong step towards resilient ecosystems and sustainable livelihoods in Gulletivada.

hashtag

01/09/2025

🌾 Empowering Women Entrepreneurs: Strengthening Millet Enterprises Through Financial Literacy! 🌾

On 29th August 2025 in Kadiri, Anantapuramu District, Andhra Pradesh, women from SHGs running millet-based food enterprises came together for a Financial Literacy session that turned into a journey of learning and inspiration. From practicing bookkeeping and pricing their millet products to role plays on negotiation and understanding the value of customer feedback, every activity boosted their confidence and teamwork. With the continued guidance of our dedicated CRPs, these women are now more empowered than ever to strengthen their enterprises and build success—one grain at a time! ✨

Aspire for Her GAME - Global Alliance for Mass Entrepreneurship

01/09/2025

🚰 On 28 Aug, Watershed Support Services and Activities Network - Wassan hosted an exposure visit for the S M Sehgal Foundation team & community members from HDFC Bank Parivartan HRDP in Medak, Telangana. Participants explored water collectives, bio-resource centers, poultry & millet RTE initiatives in Manyam. 🌾👏

16/08/2025

A National Workshop on “Evolving National Support Ecosystem for Bio-input Resource Centre (BRCs)” at the NIPHM campus, Hyderabad, on 12–13 August 2025

Click here:

National Coalition for Natural Farming, WASSANIndia, and Centre for Sustainable Agriculture, in collaboration with National Institute of Plant Health Management, NIPHM, hosted a National Workshop on “Evolving National Support Ecosystem for BRCs” at the NIPHM campus, Hyderabad, on 12–13 August ...