India

In the southern Indian states of Telangana and Tamil Nadu, arid climates and a water shortage crisis pose challenges for daily life, particularly for farmers.

Corporate control of land and the tendency to grow genetically modified crops, especially cotton, threaten traditional farming methods and biodiverse cropping systems that are resilient to harsh growing conditions. Violence against women is prevalent—including domestic and sexual violence, sex-selective abortion and dowry. Though systematically undervalued, women are central to community life and often are the sole caregivers for families and farmland while men seek salaried work in cities.

Across the country, citizen-led movements—including those infused by our counterparts—challenge the status quo.

Despite immense challenges, rural lower-caste women and farmers are organizing to learn and demand their rights, call for justice and to preserve diverse, traditional farming practices.

We have worked with counterparts in India for over 30 years to address violence against women, promote healthy, sustainable agriculture and support the political participation of women.

We collaborate with Deccan Development Society to support Dalit caste women farmers to come together in small groups – sanghams – to share and preserve traditional farming knowledge and biodiverse seeds, to collectively market their crops and to build women’s autonomy. Similarly, the Tamil Nadu Women’s Collective brings together poor and marginalized women to learn about their rights and collectively address community issues—from violence against women to economic security.