Irrigation-based social work relieves poverty in India's drylands. (January 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Agoramoorthy, Govindasamy; Hsu, Minna J.
• Is Part Of: International social work. Volume 58:Number 1(2015:Jan.)
• Page Start: 23
• Page End: 31
• Publication Date: 2015-01
• Subjects: agriculture -- irrigation -- poverty -- social work -- water; Social service -- Periodicals; Social problems -- Periodicals; Globalization -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; Community development -- Periodicals; 361
• DOI: 10.1177/0020872812463106
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0020-8728

Abstract

India's drylands, located in the states of Gujarat and Rajasthan, receive low rainfall (annual average of 95–1000 mm). Farmers have to rely on the monsoon rains to cultivate crops. Realizing the irrigation water need of the farmers who inhabit the drylands, a non-profit agency called NM Sadguru Water and Development Foundation (hereafter, the Sadguru Foundation), initiated social work based on irrigation water to assist farmers in growing more crops. In this article, we present data on the irrigation-based social work implemented by the Sadguru Foundation across the drylands of western India and how it benefits local farming communities.