Vidarbha and Marathwada are mired with droughts and face severe challenges to ensure water security for village communities. HUF’s partnership with WoTR is designed to address this challenge operating in 3 blocks of Jalna district. The region falls under the Central Maharashtra Plateau Zone which receives an average annual rainfall of 650 to 700 mm. Rainfall has been reducing considerably over the past few years aggravating the plight of farmers in the region.

The programme focusses on two components: water conservation and community governance of water resources. To mitigate drought risks, the programme aims to secure water by activating water structures in Jalna which store water and reduce surface water run-off and soil erosion.  These are done through plans approved under MGNREGS. Jal Sevaks, who are local village-based volunteers, drive behaviour change among rural communities by driving adoption of improved agricultural practices through on-farm demonstrations and promoting farm bunding.

This programme covers 87 villages across in Jalna district activating 576 water structures. An estimated 15,577 farmers have benefited through the adoption of practices on 17,186 hectares of land.