Groundbreaking climate-smart agricultural model empowers rural women in Maharashtra

A case study on a women-led climate-smart agricultural model piloted by Swayam Shikshan Prayog (SSP) in the drought-prone Marathwada region of Maharashtra, India, which has scaled to reach over 60,000 women farmers.

• In 2014, Swayam Shikshan Prayog (SSP) piloted a climate-smart agriculture model in the Marathwada region of Maharashtra to counter the negative effects of water-intensive cash crops like soy and cotton. The model focuses on sustainable-farming techniques, diversifying livelihoods via agriculture-allied businesses, improving water management, and promoting the marketing and consumption of nutritious, locally-grown foods. This initiative has resulted in improved soil fertility, increased household food security, and a reduction in farming costs.
• The climate-smart agricultural model has been scaled across six drought-prone districts in Maharashtra, reaching more than 60,000 women farmers across 810 villages.
• The project's success is attributed to a multi-pronged approach involving training in resilience practices, loans, and knowledge exchange between farms. The case study highlights that strengthening the capacity of women farmers improves household socio-economic status and climate resilience, and that implementation is aided by partnerships with corporates, experts, governments, and community stakeholders.

APA

Climate and Development Knowledge Network (2020). Groundbreaking climate-smart agricultural model empowers rural women in Maharashtra. https://cdkn.org/resource/groundbreaking-climate-smart-agricultural-model-empowers-rural-women-in-maharashtra

Chicago

Climate and Development Knowledge Network. Groundbreaking climate-smart agricultural model empowers rural women in Maharashtra. 2020. https://cdkn.org/resource/groundbreaking-climate-smart-agricultural-model-empowers-rural-women-in-maharashtra.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Climate and Development Knowledge Network |title=Groundbreaking climate-smart agricultural model empowers rural women in Maharashtra |date=25 May 2020 |url=https://cdkn.org/resource/groundbreaking-climate-smart-agricultural-model-empowers-rural-women-in-maharashtra |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{climateanddevelopmentknowledgenetwork2020groundbreaking, author = {{Climate and Development Knowledge Network}}, title = {{Groundbreaking climate-smart agricultural model empowers rural women in Maharashtra}}, institution = {Climate and Development Knowledge Network}, year = {2020}, month = may, url = {https://cdkn.org/resource/groundbreaking-climate-smart-agricultural-model-empowers-rural-women-in-maharashtra}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }