Groundbreaking climate-smart agricultural model empowers rural women in Maharashtra

This case study describes a women-led climate-smart agriculture model piloted by Swayam Shikshan Prayog (SSP) in 2014 in the Marathwada region of Maharashtra, India. The model focuses on sustainable farming, water conservation, and livelihood diversification to empower rural women and build household resilience against drought and climate change.

• The climate-smart agriculture model employs a multi-pronged strategy combining agricultural techniques, livelihood diversification, social and cultural considerations, and innovative financial models to strengthen the role of women as farmers. This approach aims to improve the socio-economic status of households and build family resilience to climate change impacts.
• Since 2015, 41,000 women farmers have adopted the model, resulting in 30,000 acres of dry land being managed via organic farming and soil and water conservation. The use of organic inputs and mixed-cropping methods led to a 25 percent increase in crop yield, while households saved US$497 per family annually by consuming food grown on their own farms.
• The model's methodology emphasizes low-input agriculture, including the use of biopesticides, biofertilisers, and local seed varieties to reduce costs. Water management is improved through the use of farm ponds, tree plantations, sprinklers, and simple drip irrigation. Training in sales and marketing further increased women's incomes by 25 percent.
• Success was driven by a combination of capacity building and institutional support, including the creation of a cadre of 500 women-farmer leaders for knowledge transfer, a mentoring scheme, and a community-resilient fund for loans. Additionally, lobbying and advocacy helped women access government agriculture schemes and benefits.
• The model has expanded across Maharashtra to reach over 60,000 women farmers in 810 villages across six drought-prone districts. Between 2016 and 2019, the Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP) initiative supported over 21,000 women farmers in two districts. The model has also been replicated in the states of Bihar and Odisha.

APA

Thakur, R. (2020). Groundbreaking climate-smart agricultural model empowers rural women in Maharashtra. Climate and Development Knowledge Network. https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/Gender-Maharashtra-case-study-2.pdf

Chicago

Thakur, Ritu. Groundbreaking climate-smart agricultural model empowers rural women in Maharashtra. Climate and Development Knowledge Network, 2020. https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/Gender-Maharashtra-case-study-2.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Thakur |first1=Ritu |title=Groundbreaking climate-smart agricultural model empowers rural women in Maharashtra |publisher=Climate and Development Knowledge Network |date=May 2020 |url=https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/Gender-Maharashtra-case-study-2.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{thakur2020groundbreaking, author = {Thakur, Ritu}, 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/sites/default/files/files/Gender-Maharashtra-case-study-2.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }