Library - Latest 10

Agroforestry enhances farmers’ ability to adapt to climate change and delivers multiple ecological, social, and economic benefits. However, scientific evidence linking agroforestry as a Nature-based Solution (NbS) to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and in particular the localization of these goals, is limited. Using case studies from Bagepalli, Yasmeen Telwala uses a qualitative research methodology to demonstrate how agroforestry offers NbS that localize 10 of 17 SDG targets. In doing so, she identifies farmers' intrinsic motivations, barriers to the adoption of agroforestry practices as means to adapt to climate hardships, and the role of the carbon market in rewarding environmental stewardship. This case study focuses on the farmers’ narratives, and puts their perspectives at the forefront, emphasizing on basic needs of the poorest of the rural poor, illustrating the “real world” setting of developing countries. 

In this paper, written for internal reflection, we have described ADATS' experiences with two CDM projects where we built 17,000 domestic Biogas units 12-16 years back. Supported by solid data,, we have critically looked at performance and reasons for usage severely dropping from 2017 onward. We have explored various factors like Repair & Maintenance, the "convenience" argument and LPG trap, disempowerment of women, upward mobility, the pandemic, poverty, and the role of staff. After that, we examined who had retained their Biogas units, steadfastly refusing to switch to non-renewables. Finally, when reflecting on Impacts, we have commented on the acumen of the rural poor and how gender rote roles have been shattered.

2050 is fast approaching. Nations, corporates, business leaders and informed individuals were acutely aware that time was running out. The IPCC had warned that we have crossed the tipping point. Yet, till very recently, responses didn't seem to match the realisation. They appeared casual and indifferent, bordering on the callous; defensive comebacks with metaphoric shields up and weapons drawn. The rural poor, on the other hand, with lives intertwined with nature and bearing the direct brunt of climate change and unpredictable weather patterns, have an intuitive grasp even if not based on datasets and scientific explanations. Community-based climate projects facilitated by grassroots NGOs have, for the past decade and more, taped this intrinsic potential in as serious and responsible a manner as possible. We need to critique these efforts in order to identify lapses and make improvements. In order to initiate reflection and debate among FCN Members and others I have, over the past few weeks, penned my own thoughts and reflections.

The depth, length and breadth of the Sanghas journey and our long term support to them

Biographical video for the younger generation who are coming into development work to learn from a journey and philosophy.

After such a long spell of Lockdowns and unlocks ADATS decided to call the Coolie Sangha cadre from each Gram Panchayat for day long meetings at Bagepalli. This chronicle is not a recording of the minutes of the 6 meetings. It is a penning of the sum and substance of everything that 212 women and 191 men from 94 villages shared in 21½ hours spread over 6 days, interspersed with select anecdotes and authentic statements paraphrased to the best that my memory serves, ordered under 5 topics - the Pandemic, Lockdown, Crops & Cultivation, Children's Schooling, & the Coolie Sangha

Lockdown was just an immediate initial response to gain an understanding of the never-before-seen “novel” coronavirus. Irrespective of how it was presented to the population, it was never intended to be the magic bullet to defeat COVID-19. To therefore call it a knee jerk reaction that failed, even if it did not give anticipated results, would be wrong. It has given us time to plan a more realistic and effective response. A critical examination of learning gained – epidemiology, virology, response protocols – is the urgent need of the hour. On the other hand, pretending to be infallible and refusing to examine even limited results and failures will be the stupidest course to take.

On Sunday, 10 May 2020 we got to know that large number of Migrants had reached the Karnataka-AP border, right at our doorsteps. Ever since, ADATS Staff started going out every evening to asist as many as possible make a smooth crossing. We distributed a little bit to eat, drinking water and money to help them on their epic walk back home. Whenever possible, checkpoint authorities and we stopped Northbound trucks to ferry the Migrants at least a part of the thousands of kilometres they'd set out to trek. This is a compilation of emails we have been sending out to friends and well-wishers on our daily interactions and learning from some of the bravest youngsters we've ever met.

650 Coolie Sangha members came over 2 days to receive carbon revenue from the sale of Forestry credits sequestered through the planting of trees on their scattered holdings. To date, 509 families have received a total of Rs 1.77 crore Another 3,128 End User women have received Rs 3.03 crore through the sale of Emission Reductions they generated by using their Biogas units instead of non-renewable biomass. In the next few months, these women will receive another Rs 1.09 crore taking their total "business earnings through environmental services rendered to society at large" to Rs 4.99 crore Ram Esteves spoke about the current political economy, the Coolie Sangha, the agricultural economy, capitalism, climate change and carbon revenue in order to contextualise their heroic efforts.

The Coolie Sangha of yesterday was a unity forged in order to overcome poverty and tackle feudal oppression. You have achieved your objectives. Those functions of the Coolie Sangha are no longer relevant. In today’s world, we need the Coolie Sangha in a state of permanent cooperation and mutuality. It should be a Unity that continually stands for justice, protection and support for each other. This Unity is the basis for Social Capital needed by individual poor to aggregate their efforts and draw upon the community in order to succeed in new age business ventures that ADATS will identify and facilitate.