How wadi farming helped Surekha establish roots and unlock new opportunities.

Surehka lives in a rural community in Dahanu. For many years, she has relied on seasonal migration to earn a daily wage. This has proved to be a tough and unsustainable way of life for Surehka and her family, as every time the monsoon season ends, they would move on in search of employment in brick-making factories.

More than this, the migration disrupted family life, limiting their ability to earn money and preventing them from having a permanent place to call home.

Surehka’s life took a positive turn when she was introduced to wadi farming with the help of ACG Cares Foundation and a local partner. The Wadi Farming Project aims to break the cycle of poverty for many families just like Surehka’s, by helping 

them to adopt sustainable agricultural practices and achieve year-round productivity.

Surehka’s family received a one-acre wadi, comprising 20 mango trees, 40 cashew trees and 300 mogra plantations. Together, the family diligently worked towards maximising their produce, even in challenging weather conditions. They utilised natural water sources, rainwater and carefully applied fertilisers and pesticides to take care of the environment.

The new wadi plantation has had a profound effect on Surehka’s family. It has eliminated the need for seasonal migration, enabling them to tend to their own land throughout the year and bring stability to their lives.