#maharashtra

[uroko]

A trip down memory rain ♡

[reasonsforhope]

"In a degraded and semi-arid farming area in India, simple science-driven changes to the landscape have colored the horizon, and a village’s fortunes, with green.

In the Latur district in the central western state of Maharashtra, 40 years of erratic rainfall, groundwater depletion, soil erosion, and crop failures have impoverished the local people.

In the village of Matephal, the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) launched a project in 2023 that aimed at addressing these challenges through integrated landscape management and climate-smart farming practices. [Note: Meaning they've achieved this much in just two years!]

Multiple forms of data collection allowed ICRISAT to target precise strategies for each challenge facing the 2,000 or so people in Matephal.

Key interventions focused on three critical areas: water conservation, land enhancement with crop diversification, and soil health improvement. Rainwater harvesting structures recharged groundwater around 1,200 acres, raising water tables by 12 feet and securing reliable irrigation. Farm ponds provided supplemental irrigation, while embanking across 320 acres reduced soil erosion.

Farmers diversified their crops, converting 120 or so acres of previously fallow land into productive farmland with legumes, millets, and vegetables. Horticulture-linked markets for fruits and flowers improved income stability.

Weather monitoring equipment was also installed that actively informed sustainable irrigation practices.

“It is a prime example of how data-driven approaches can address complex agricultural challenges, ensuring interventions are precise and impactful. Matephal village is a model for other semi-arid regions in India and beyond,” said Dr. Stanford Blade, Director General-Interim at ICRISAT.

Farmers actively participated in planning and decision-making, fostering long-term commitment.

“This ICRISAT project improved yields, diversified crops, and boosted incomes. It also spared women from walking over a kilometer for drinking water, now available in the village for people and animals,” said Mr. Govind Hinge of Matephal village.

Looking ahead, ICRISAT writes it wants to use Matephal as a case study to scale these methods across India’s vast and drier average. As Matephal’s fields flourish, the village is a testament to the power of collaboration and science in transforming lives and landscapes."

-Article via Good News Network, March 3, 2025. Video via International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), February 26, 2025

[sitting-on-me-bum]

India has a stunning variety of unique avian life. Wildlife SOS photographer Akash Dolas usually brings us breathtaking leopard rescue images, but he also sees the huge biodiversity of the Western Ghat mountains of Maharashtra near our Leopard Rescue Centre. Akash photographed the moment this paradise flycatcher took flight, with an intense stare and a whip of its exquisite tail feathers.

[keepingitneutral]

Villa Uma, Satirje, Alibaug, Maharashtra, India,

Courtesy: Case Design

[dream-world-universe]

KP Waterfall, Khopoli, India: Nestled in the lush Sahyadri mountains, KP Waterfall near Khopoli is a hidden gem, That offers a peaceful retreat away from the usual crowded spots. The waterfall flows right over a tunnel, creating a unique and mesmerizing view. The nearby railway bridge adds an extra charm to the scene. Watching a train pass over the bridge while the waterfall roars below is a moment you won’t forget. Khopoli is an industrial city in the Khalapur taluka of Raigad district, in the Indian state of Maharashtra, at the base of the Sahyadri mountains. Wikipedia

[zombilenium]

Salota fort, Maharashtra, India,

@ archidit

[pangeen]

" Kingfisher " //© Arun Kumar M

Special Guest : White Egret

[desigirldairies]

MAHARASHTRA

[molkolsdal]

Rosy performs her routine at the Meghraj Cabaret in Bombay, Maharashtra in 1984.

Mitch Epstein

[sumansunil17]

•Indian Striped Hyena•

Scavenger from grasslands of Deccan Plateau, India

[wgm-beautiful-world]

KAILASA TEMPLE (Kailasha or Kailashanatha Temple) is the largest rock-cut Hindu temples at the Ellora Caves in Verul, Maharashtra, INDIA

[moodboardmix]

K House, Alibag, Raigad district of Maharashtra, India,

Atelier Design N Domain

[kaalbela]

Fisherwomen of Udupi, India.

Indrajit Khambe

[dada4020]

[keepingitneutral]

Asmalay farmhouse, Alibag, Maharashtra, India,

Blurring Boundaries Architects