WATER AGRICULTURE LIVELIHOOD SECURITY IN INDIA (WEALS)

CIPT implemented the Water-Agriculture-Livelihood Security in India (WEALS) program, funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) between 2012-19. The program helped improve farmers’ livelihoods and food security in Punjab, Gujarat, and Jharkhand – all significant contributors to India’s overall food security. Public and private sector collaboration coupled with innovation were key elements of this program.

CIPT worked with more than 2 lakh farmers in Punjab, Gujarat and Jharkhand  to test and scale up innovative and integrated water and energy saving technologies and practices. The program significantly  helped farmers increase their yields and incomes, as well as to introduce best practices in groundwater management. Working with both government agencies and the private sector, CIPT  could improve water and energy policies and provided modern extension services to farmers so they have better market information, crop and irrigation decisions.

Along with this, the WEALS program was an important catalyst to test innovative development models that cut across sectors such as agriculture, water and climate change. By working with public and private partners, program helped mitigate long-term threats that adversely and disproportionately affect India’s poor and vulnerable populations.

Partners in this program included state governments, agricultural universities and research institutes, Indian Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR), Columbia Water Centre- New York,  Columbia  University in the United States, and agri-businesses such as Field Fresh, Del Monte, Beauscape farm and technology partners such as NECTAR and TOF.