From Struggle to Sustainability: How Latur Farmers Transformed Agriculture and Their Livelihoods in Maharashtra

    Garg, K K and Majeed, Israr and Anantha, K H and Akuraju, V R and Pramanik, S and Khuswaha, D and Amit, S and Singh, R and Kumar, S and Jat, M L (2024) From Struggle to Sustainability: How Latur Farmers Transformed Agriculture and Their Livelihoods in Maharashtra. Project Report. ICRISAT, Patancheru.

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    Global Research Program - Resilient Farm and Food Systems

    Additional Information

    This initiative was made possible through the collaborative efforts of the local farming community, the Groundwater Survey and Development Agency (GSDA), the Department of Agriculture, Government of Maharashtra, and the ICRISAT team with dedicated efforts from: Kaushal K Garg, Israr Majeed, KH Anantha, A Venkataradha, Soumitra Pramanik, Dharmendra Khuswaha, Amit Shinde, Ramesh Singh, Shalander Kumar, ML Jat.

    Abstract

    Latur district in Maharashtra has long faced critical agricultural challenges, including erratic rainfall, groundwater depletion, acute water shortage and soil degradation. With fragmented landholdings averaging 1–2 hectares, smallholder farmers struggled to sustain agricultural productivity and profitability. Recognizing these challenges, the Groundwater Survey and Development Agency (GSDA), in collaboration with ICRISAT, launched a transformative initiative under the Atal Bhujal Yojana (2023–2025) supported by CGIAR Initiative on Sustainable Intensification of Mixed Farming Systems. About 440 farm households were involved in this initiative. To design effective interventions, a comprehensive multidimensional analysis was conducted, evaluating the economic, social, and environmental sustainability of farming systems using ICRISAT’s MSAT framework. Additionally, a Land Resource Inventory (LRI) assessment was undertaken to assess soil characteristics and land use potential, while a hydrological assessment helped identify water availability, recharge potential, and vulnerabilities. These assessments provided a strong foundation for planning targeted resource conservation and use while designing holistic solutions from farm to landscape scale for sustainable agricultural improvements. Based on these assessments and a participatory community-led approach, key entry points were identified at both the landscape scale and farming systems scale, along with market linkages to enhance sustainability.

    Item Type: Monograph (Project Report)
    Divisions: Global Research Program - Resilient Farm and Food Systems
    CRP: UNSPECIFIED
    Series Name: Success Story
    Uncontrolled Keywords: innovation adoption, groundwater, smallholders, sustainable agriculture, farming systems
    Subjects: Others > Smallholder Farmers
    Others > Sustainable Agriculture
    Others > Cropping and Farming Systems
    Others > Water Resources
    Depositing User: Mr Nagaraju T
    Date Deposited: 17 Oct 2025 03:50
    Last Modified: 17 Oct 2025 03:50
    URI: http://oar.icrisat.org/id/eprint/13365
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