A dimension within Rural Scarcity & Heat
A specific disease is affecting crops, raising concerns about agriculture and climate change.
150 voices speak to this
Each dimension splits this theme further — keep drilling to see how it breaks down.
Negative
Overall Community Sentiment
AI-synthesised pieces woven from many community voices on this theme. They may contain errors or interpretation — they're a reflection of the stories, not a record of fact.
Facing the prospect of future water scarcity, our community relies on cultivating traditional zero-irrigation crops to secure food and conserve precious resources.
Even without irrigation, our traditional seeds and old farming methods ensure our crops ripen, providing food for our homes.
Our tribal community shares how to cultivate vital crops like chickpeas, corn, and lentils, even in dry conditions without relying on irrigation.
A Balangir resident cultivates their land with ancient wisdom, dreams of opening a fancy store with a loan, reflects on their unique tribal identity and ancestral jungle, and envisions their village t
Our farming activities are affected by a lack of water.
— SUSANTA PATTNAYAK · Adaba, Gajapati, Odisha
We have a water shortage even for double cropping. Due to this, we are using our own seed paddy and doing less threshing, as we have sown the paddy in the field.
— Padmini Bhoi · SKIP NO LOCATION
We used to plant paddy according to the season in olden times. Now, due to lack of rain, we are cultivating cotton in the fields.
— Laba Kumar sabar · Bada Baridi, Rayagada, Odisha
In the present era, due to unseasonal weather, the yield of agricultural crops has decreased.
— Padmalochan Majhi · Ratachua, Rayagada, Odisha
Yes, we do farming. We used to farm even without water. We cultivate moong, urad, and other dryland crops. This type of farming is done during the winter months, which is unstable due to the cold.
— Ulapi Sahu · Balangir, Odisha
We are being provided facilities due to lack of irrigation for our agricultural land.
— Laba Kumar sabar · Bada Baridi, Rayagada, Odisha
Hello, regarding the summer, the sun is very strong. But since we are in the countryside, we don't feel it much because we work in the village. It's a little, a little more. But because we are farmers, we don't feel it. But I don't know how you people in town are coping, poor things. The sun is indeed very strong this year. I don't know if it will stay like this or how it will be. But we ourselves are drinking a lot of water in the countryside. But even if we farm like that, our farming is not yielding much. The yield is very low. Half of the harvest is wasted due to yellow disease. I don't know how we are going to cope.
— Divagar N · Parakkalur AD Street, Salem, Tamil Nadu
We will cultivate the land we have. We will plough and prepare the field. There is a slight problem with water. That place is dry and our crops are also dry.
— pinku sunani · Litisargi, Nuapada, Odisha
Earlier, we planted rice because it rained according to the season. Now, we are cultivating cotton because it has not rained according to the season.
— Laba Kumar sabar · Bada Baridi, Rayagada, Odisha
They do farming without water, but now it has decreased, it doesn't ripen.
— Kachala Choudhary
Farming
— Sunita Kumari · Ghorawal, Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh
The environment was good before, now it doesn't rain on time, due to which farming is not good.
— Upendra Kumar Mahananda
We live in an irrigated area, and due to the lack of water, we grow the same seeds that will give us a harvest that works for us and yields with less water.
— Sonmati · Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh
There is a borewell problem in our village. Due to the unavailability of water easily in the fields, we are unable to grow a second crop.
— Amar Lal Dhurwey
Due to forests being destroyed day by day and the lack of proper rainfall, agriculture is not doing well.
— Suna Majhi
Due to the lack of soil moisture in our village, we are facing difficulty in cultivating a second crop.
— Amar Lal Dhurwey · Mandla, Madhya Pradesh
We are providing facilities due to lack of irrigation for the farmlands.
— Laba Kumar sabar · Bada Baridi, Rayagada, Odisha
In the village, these days, we are working on paddy harvesting and sowing for the July or Rabi season.
— Ram Maravi · Mandla, Madhya Pradesh
Due to deforestation, we are unable to cultivate properly. It is not raining.
— Karunakar Uthansing · Dhusarigan, Kandhamal, Odisha
Farming and agriculture
— Sunita Kumari · Ghorawal, Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh
This summer has been hotter than usual. This year we experienced more heat waves. We also stopped agriculture in summer due to the unavailability of water for irrigation. This somewhat impacted our economy, which had been a source of external income. During the day, we drink mango and tamarind juice, which helps us maintain our body temperature.
— Anish Toppo · Raiboga, Sundargarh, Odisha
This year, it was very hot in our village. Especially during the afternoon, the sun was very intense. Due to the heat, it became difficult to do household chores. There were also frequent power cuts in our village, which caused us a lot of trouble. Many wells in our village also dry up during the summers, so there's a big problem with water. Many times, we have to go far to fetch water. To stay cool, we used to drink cold water from earthen pots. We also had to do farm work only from 5 AM to 10 AM, as it wasn't possible to work in the intense afternoon sun. To keep the house a bit cool, we put tree branches on the roof. This reduces direct sunlight and makes the house feel a bit cooler. This is how we cope with the heat.
— Pragati Raut · Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Maharashtra
There is a water problem. During summer, we used to bring water from far away. And now, if there is water in the canal (drain) in the field, we are digging a pit there and drinking from it.
— Rupesh Maravi · Mandla, Madhya Pradesh
There is a lack of new technology, good seeds, and irrigation. We do farming, but the cost is high and the profit is low.
— VEER SINGH SIJUI · Seraikela-Kharsawan, Jharkhand
Agriculture farming
— Sunita Kumari · Ghorawal, Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh
This year our village experienced extreme heat. Especially during the afternoon, the sun was very strong. Due to the heat, it became difficult to do household chores. Power outages were also very frequent in our village, which caused us a lot of trouble. Many wells in our village also dry up in summer, so there is a big problem with water. Many times we have to go far for water. To stay cool, we used to drink cold water from earthen pots. We also had to do farm work only from 5 AM to 10 AM, as it was not possible to work in the scorching afternoon sun. To keep the house a bit cool, we put tree branches on the roof. This reduces direct sunlight and makes the house feel a bit cooler. This is how we cope with the heat.
— Pragati Raut · Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Maharashtra
There is a shortage of water for farming in our village. If proper arrangements are made, farming activities will improve.
— SUSANTA PATTNAYAK · Gajapati, Odisha
Yes, we cultivate a second crop without water, we cultivate green gram every year, and sometimes if it's very hot, it also gets damaged. It doesn't yield at all.
— Ulapi Sahu · Patnāgarh, Balangir, Odisha
We will do farming.
— Manjusha Marko · Dudhi, Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh
Due to excessive deforestation, we specifically have a shortage of water. Also, there is a significant shortage of food and fruits.
— Karunakar Uthansing · Maradipanga, Kandhamal, Odisha
There is a shortage of water for farming in our village. If proper arrangements are made for this, farming can be done.
— SUSANTA PATTNAYAK · Gajapati, Odisha
In our village, there is a water problem for agriculture. If this is resolved, farming activities will improve.
— SUSANTA PATTNAYAK
To promote farming, due to the lack of irrigation facilities here, we are unable to grow a second crop well.
— Ram Maravi · Dindori, Madhya Pradesh
There is a shortage of water for our agricultural work. If water is properly managed, agricultural work can improve.
— SUSANTA PATTNAYAK · Gajapati, Odisha
We are tribal people. We do our own farming. We have been farming without water. We grow chickpeas, moong, kulthi, and black gram.
— Parikshit Majhi
There is a water problem in our village.
— Sonmati · Ormaura, Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh
There is a water problem in our village.
— SUSANTA PATTNAYAK
Yes, due to the lack of water facilities in our fields, we grow Rabi crops using traditional methods without irrigation and also maintain traditional seeds using traditional methods.
— Rupesh Maravi · Mandla, Madhya Pradesh
Yes, we practice zero-irrigation farming, but it has reduced a lot, it's not like before.
— Kachala Choudhary
climate change
— Jayprakash Nayak · Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation, Khordha, Odisha
The voices in this theme were gathered by these organisations through their community reports.
“If you or your women’s groups are given a seed capital of INR 20,000, what enterprise will you choose?” · “Do you practice zero irrigation second crop and follow traditional farming practices and seed protection?” · +6 more
“This summer has been unusually hot in many places. What was your experience this summer? How do you deal with the heat?” · “India is currently experiencing an energy crisis due to the war in West Asia. Have you been affected by the LPG shortages? How are you dealing with rising fuel costs?” · +1 more
“How can Relocation and Migration be handled from a position of Climate Justice?” · “How can we create Public Spaces for Climate Resilience and Enabling Young People as Urban Builders?”
“"Love for the landscape" - What do you like most about your village and surroundings?” · “What skills or good abilities do you have (for work, farming, forest, community, etc.)?”
