Madaul village, located in Gajapati district in Odisha, is home to 65 households which have long relied on paddy cultivation as its primary source of livelihood. Persistent water scarcity due to the village’s higher elevation which leads to rapid soil and water runoff, has deeply affected the lives of Madaul’s residents, including Abedan Badaraita and his wife, who have witnessed the transformations in their village over the decades. Despite the widespread adoption of chemical fertilisers and pesticides in Madaul over the last decade due to the challenges posed by climate change, Abedan has remained steadfast in his commitment to organic farming resilient to these changes. “My father and forefathers never used chemicals, and that is what we have stuck to,” he proudly shares. While others in the village turn to chemicals for higher market yields, Abedan’s farm stands out for its uncompromising quality. “People like my produce because I don’t compromise with quality. It’s healthier, and they say it tastes sweeter.” Yet, Abedan’s steadfast approach comes with its challenges. Chemical farming, while costly, often yields around 40 quintals of produce per acre, compared to 30-35 quintals. Abedan finds reassurance in the lower input costs and healthier organic farming produce. He also cultivates cashews on the forest land he owns, though he notes with a tinge of nostalgia that he once grew diverse crops like red gram and millet there. Through watershed development work in the village, the groundwater is slowly being rejuvenated and relaxing the burden on farmers like Abedan. A check dam was also constructed on Abedan’s land, addressing water scarcity head-on. Additionally, a newly built water harvesting structure now provides water security to 14 farmers, while the check dam benefits 10. To further enhance agricultural productivity, 9.5 hectares of land has been levelled, benefitting 17 farmers. Across the village, these interventions have created an annual water harvesting potential of 7.08 million litres (7,078,250 litres), improving irrigation and livelihoods. Abedan Badaraita’s journey, interwoven with Madaul’s transformation, is a testament to the resilience and the power of community-driven initiatives. Pictures by Ajaya Kumar Behera and Robin Jacob Abraham. Written by Anupriya Pandey Read the story here: WOTR website