Climate Action India Project #36187

Food security for women farmers in rural India

by Sophia Akash Foundation

Summary

Thousands of women farmers across India with less than 2 acres of land struggle to sustain their crop farming due to droughts, floods, pests and soil erosion. This leads to increased poverty and greater food insecurity for their families. Help us to provide climate-smart greenhouses for 500 women. These will safeguard their crops from such perils, use 90% less water, produce 7 times greater harvests per acre and provide these women with the means to increase their food security.

$50,000
total goal

$5,618
remaining

199
donors

4
monthly donors

13
fundraisers

4
years

Challenge

Climate change is increasing the severity and frequency of the perils facing these women. Extreme heat, unseasonal rains, droughts, pests and diseases continue to wipe out their entire crops. This means that the women earn less than $2/day while investing their entire working lives in their farms. The overuse of chemical based fertilisers and pesticides also increase the rate of erosion of the soil as well as poisoning their only water supplies.

Solution

Climate-smart greenhouses together with the training and guidance needed, will help these women become sustainable farmers. Their crops will be safeguarded against climate change related perils, eliminate pests and diseases and replenish their soil with organic nutrients. The fertility of their soil and quality of their water supply will also improve. With more sustainable harvests, their income will also increase leading to greater financial independence and a more inclusive farming community.

Long-Term Impact

These women will improve their farming skills, produce healthier crops while also safeguarding their natural resources and farming heritage. The increased income will provide for better nutrition, basic healthcare, schooling, and sanitation for their children and their families. Evidence shows that in the long run, the increased welfare of their children and their families will also help foster a sustainable path out of poverty.