Climate impact in Bahnakhodra, India

Bahnakhodra is a remote village in Chhattisgarh, central India.

The local, tribal people depend on their agriculture and forest-foraging for sustenance and a small additional income.

Climate change has heavily impacted the village. Rainfall has doubled, however, the rain season has halved to around 40 days. Intense rainfall rushes off the baked ground, escaping water collection systems. Soil quality for growing food is seriously damaged and the biodiversity in the forest is depleted meaning foraging becomes unsustainable. Water bodies are silted up and there is drought and threat of food shortage.

Working alongside the local community, we focused on supporting local understanding of:

• The water catchment area and water balances.
• Hygiene and sanitation practices.
• The specific needs of people with disabilities who often have worse access to water and toilets.

We organised project activities that included building wells and dams, community education for hygiene and sanitation, improved agricultural sustainability through quality seeds and organic fertilizer, cattle-rearing opportunities for families without land to grow food, and better provision for people with disabilities.

What’s been the positive impact on the ground?

• We engaged the local government and leveraged funds for the projects.
• Large scale rainwater harvesting, ensuring water security in the face of climate change.
• Soil quality is improved and preserved; farmers can grow two crops a year instead of one.
• The biodiversity of the forest is restored and traditional foraging made viable again.

This is a telling case of how climate change is destroying traditional ways of life around the world. But it’s also an amazing example of how Frank Water worked with local partners to improve life for a remote community.

Finding sustainable solutions in Bahnakhodra was a small but significant step in helping people and the planet to thrive.