“They realise that groundwater is a common resource, not private property, and hence requires collective action,”

Through this venture, farmers are finding stable incomes, and sustainable livelihoods as the produce is directly bought without intermediaries

Millets are being made part of the midday meal and Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) in several districts of Odisha

In dryland areas, falling groundwater levels may be causing working handpumps and borewells to go dry, requiring large capital expenditure.

"In areas where several borewells tap the aquifer, ... we try to convince the whole community to opt for recharge."

She has pushed for policy advocacy, implementation of schemes and marketing of Lakadong turmeric.

Deeper wells do not just hurt the environment but can also increase the cost borne by farmers.

"Alternative narratives at a scale that the farmer community can understand, control and adopt are already available."

Natural farming has improved yields in some areas but scaling it up to cover the entire state requires Rs 17,000 crore.