Entrench participatory processes through network approach that strengthen Natural Resources Management (NRM) practices to secure livelihoods of deprived communities in drought prone areas.
Articulate voices and needs of the people and agro-ecologies at margins, in the marginalized rainfed geographies, into public systems and policies to catalyse action at scale.
Strengthen the civil society space, enable and build their capacities in working with communities and government, network and evolve a policy narrative from evidence and grass roots innovation.
We collaborate with a wide range of partners who support our goal of bringing ecological stability and prosperity to rainfed areas, with an emphasis on impoverished communities.
Rainfed areas are diverse, fragile, ecologically stressed and vulnerable to climate variability. Agro-ecological approaches enhance resilience and system productivity; together with enhancing local economic capacity, it can bring prosperity to rainfed farmers and farm workers
Rainfed areas harbour rich biodiversity (both agricultural and livestock,) conserved and evolved over time for risk mitigation and local adaptation. Apart from supporting conservation and celebrating biodiversity with communities that protected it, we work towards evolving mainstream development approaches that strengthen conservation and use of biodiversity.
Diversity demands grassroots innovations specific to the locations. We believe that enhancing the ‘innovation capacity’ of local communities is a way to find appropriate solutions to their problems. We work to bring innovations in technology, processes and institutions, irrespective of their source, closer to communities.
Solutions to complex and diverse problems need to be co-created. Networking as an approach to co-creation of solutions or policy is one of our core values. We work and network with grass-roots organisations, researchers, governments and others to exchange knowledge and to enable a creative policy discourse for rainfed areas development.
Climate variability and associated risks - droughts in particular, are a core concern that we address. We understand that resilient mechanisms need to be built into the management of natural resources and their use in production.
We work at multiple levels - with communities on ground to, contributing to policy development. We believe in improving capacities of multiple actors and of systems in which they interface and function as the key to enhance effectiveness of social action.
Appropriate (and adequate) public investments, institutions and governance systems are much needed for the development of highly under-invested rainfed areas.Such systems need to be built upon compelling evidence and scientific analysis. Evidence based policy development and design of government programs for scaling up are core strategic elements of our approach.
Sustainable Natural Resources Management is key to survival in the fragile rainfed areas; production and livelihood systems need to be interconnected and reinforce the regenerative capacity of the soil, water, forest and livestock. We work for revitalising rainfed landscapes with watershed development as an approach. This entails working on diverse natural resources and the production systems in an integrated manner appropriate for rainfed areas.
Instrumental in its promotion, WASSAN anchors the national Network Hub of the Revitalising Rainfed Agriculture Network
Emerged as an expanded coalition of civil society organisations, researchers and others in mainstreaming Natural Farming. WASSAN anchors the Secretariat of the Coalition.
Instrumental in its promotion, WASSAN anchors the national Network Hub of the Revitalising Rainfed Agriculture Network
WASSAN is the Programme Management Unit (PMU) for Enabling Natural Farming Transition in Tribal Landscapes of Odisha implemented by Government of Odisha. The programme aims to bring gradual transition of farmers, farming and landscapes into nature based agriculture practices and provide support systems. The programme is initiated in 5 districts, and 45 blocks of Odisha.
Odisha Millets Mission is a flagship programme of Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment, Government of Odisha. Special Programme for Promotion of Millets in Tribal Areas of Odisha (Odisha Millets Mission) was launched by Govt of Odisha in 2017 to revive millets in farms and on plates.
The Pilot initiatives are built upon the earlier successful experiences on the Inclusion of Millets in ICDS in the districts of Adilabad and Vikarabad. The project is piloted in three aspirational districts of Telangana supported by NITI Aayog.
WASSAN is partners with the Department of Agriculture & Farmers’ Empowerment, Government of Odisha in the implementation of “Special Programme for promotion of Integrated Farming in Tribal Areas” in districts of Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada, Nuapada and Gajapati.
The program attempts to build capacities of Gram Panchayats in planning and implementation of MGNREGA for a comprehensive eco-system revival based on watershed development principles WASSAN is the Lead Technical Agenc of this program.
Department of Animal Husbandry, Government of Andhra Pradesh has taken up pilot programme in ITDA areas of 5 districts. WASSAN is the Lead Technical Agency to implement this programme in tribal areas along with local NGOs / CBOs.
Most arduous and satisfying effort during the year 2020 to 2021 is the Covid Relief Work. As the lockdown unfolded in Feb – March 2020 – WASSAN team has set up a monitoring unit and extended support to migrant families struck in Hyderabad and various cities of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
The high rainfall tribal areas suffer due to dry spells and droughts as much as the dryland areas. These areas we focus are predominantly ‘Rainfed Areas’ i.e. agriculture dependent on rains.
Tribal areas, once pristine, are fast degrading with degradation of forests, spread of monocrop chemical agriculture, loss of biodiversity, drying up of springs and streams, and other changes.
Water has been a critical issue in agriculture on the slopes in tribal areas; crops are often subjected to climate risks.
Tribal Backyard Poultry with Desi breeds has been a major initiative that has been successfully scaled up in the tribal areas.
Fisheries in seasonal water bodies has greater potential but unused. A system of fish production in a cluster of ponds was evolved to make use of all the water bodies for fish production.
WASSAN worked with the Kollam PVTG tribal groups in Adilabad district of Telangana during the Covid extending support to the interior areas.
WASSAN has been working in the strife torn Malkangiri interior tribal areas since 2014. Last three years contributed to a greater expansion of this work with the state government deciding to initiate a special program on integrated farming systems to scale up our successful work in the district.
Intensive work of WASSAN is spread in Four states viz., Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Odisha and Jharkhand. Through the Network, we currently engage in 7 states.
Supporting the BYP program that generates 1 lakh income / household for 1000 families in villages of Andhra Pradesh
Self-sufficient ecosystem development in the tribal community that is reliant on fisheries, backyard poultry
Introduced farm machinery (A mobile solar cart, a pull-type sprayer, household mixies) to improve from productivity and reduce the drugery of women farmers
A WASH project was executed in 11 villages of Anandapuram mandal of Visakhapatnam district in Andhra Pradesh with the support of HSBC benefiting 722 families
Promoting natural farming and sustainable production of crops such as millets
Developing ponds for sustainable production and consumption of the communities for sustainable development
Staff on ground promoting biodiversity through promotion and conservation of indigenous livestock
Working collaboratively with 6 international and 50 local organization to reach the goal of nutritional security, women empowerment and climate resilience
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Plot No. 685 & 686, Street No. 12, Narasimha Swamy Colony,
Nagole, Hyderabad – 500 068, Telangana, India
Tel No: +91 (40) 29555295
Mail: mail@wassan.org
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