The stories in the book challenge inequality, ecological damage, centralised governance, and the currently dominant model of development.

Traditional desert dwellers, traveling mostly on foot, have an innate knowledge of this vast and differentiated land. They map it in inches

"We give each farmer (signing a pledge to use organic methods) two kilos of seed; they bring double the quantity back the next year, ”

“We know the farmers well enough to have faith in their produce and other allied processed products,”

Millets need less water to grow and live on whatever rainwater they receive.

A bottom-up movement is essential therefore to apply pressure on the powers-that-be at least over a period of a few decades.

On using peels, seeds, pits and even watermelon rinds to make dishes ranging from subzi (cooked vegetable) to fried snacks.

As many as 170 farmers in three of Andhra Pradesh's districts will take up sowing diverse seed varieties in half-acre of land each in kharif 2018.

Apart from benefiting farmers, the scheme would also benefit thousands of school going children.