Feature Story
In Chhattisgarh’s tribal region, the village of Deurbal had long struggled with agricultural uncertainty. The land, mostly dependent on rice and corn, was at the mercy of both the monsoon and droughts. Yields were erratic, incomes marginal, and opportunities scarce. The villagers followed the same cycles for generations, with few viable alternatives.
That began to change in 2016, when researchers and students from Amrita Univeristy’s Live-in-Labs® program arrived. Instead of introducing prepackaged solutions, the program focused on co-creating practical, context-specific interventions, many of which would later reshape farming practices and the village economy itself.
One of the most impactful initiatives was the introduction of lemongrass farming, a drought-resistant crop with high market demand, especially its oil. For a community long dependent on rain-fed agriculture, this represented more than a new crop, it offered a new framework for resilience.
In partnership with local farmers, Live-in-Labs® piloted lemongrass on a small scale. Thirty farmers took part in the initial phase. The results quickly validated the approach: yields were consistent, and income from lemongrass oil began to outpace traditional crops.
They were also able to gain the support of the Govt of India’s CSIR-CMAP, a premier research institute that focuses on medicinal and aromatic plants and then extends technologies and services to farmers and entrepreneurs.
An MoU was signed in Amma’s presence in which CSIR-CIMAP would offer initial planting material, technical expertise, and installation of processing infrastructure, and Amma’s initiatives would work alongside the farmers to promote the project, implement it, and do daily follow-up.
Soon, over 200 acres were under cultivation. A distillation unit, installed in the village itself, enabled farmers to process the oil locally and capture more value from the supply chain. The oil, with its increasing demand both in India and abroad, began generating steady income for the farmers.
“Before lemongrass, we didn’t think the land could give us much. Now we earn better, and it feels good to see something growing that helps our families,” shared Mr Ramesh.
In parallel, Live-in-Labs® helped facilitate the formation of eight Amrita SREE Self-Help Groups (SHGs). This initiative by Amma instills rural women with financial independence and self-confidence. To date, it has reached 250,000 members with 15,000 SHGs across the country.
In Deurbal, the women accessed training, savings mechanisms, and microloans. Next, they were able to take on roles traditionally closed to them. Some became leaders in farm operations, and others handled financial management or logistics. With this, the social structure of the village shifted as the women became leaders in public and economic life.
“The SHG’s aren’t just about money. It gives us a platform to be independent,” expressed Ms Kamala.
“Earlier, we didn’t step out much or speak up in front of others. Now, we attend meetings, manage money, and support each other. It feels good to be part of something that’s helping our families and the whole village.”
The agricultural transformation also led to a transition in how resources are managed. Deurbal’s farms, once vulnerable to drought, began benefiting from solar-powered irrigation systems introduced through the Saur Sujala Yojna scheme by the Indian and Chhattisgarh Governments.
Ten farms moved to reliable, off-grid irrigation. With that infrastructure in place, farmers diversified further, planting over 1,000 banana saplings, as well as 400 coconut and 200 mango trees. These long-term crops created new income streams and strengthened food security for future generations.
Mr Ghanshyam Upadhyay is a Zonal Coordinator with Live-in-Labs® in Chhattisgarh. For ten years, he has been working in villages throughout the North to help free the people from the clutches of endemic poverty.
“Deurbal’s evolution illustrates what can happen when communities are not just supported, but empowered. It’s not just about introducing a new technique, it’s about unlocking the capacity that’s already there,” he said.
These grassroots efforts not only uplift local lives, but they also directly contribute to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, 1, 5, 7, 8 and 13, contributing to poverty alleviation, gender equality, clean energy, and sustainable agriculture.
Today, more than 100 of Deurbal’s farmers have joined in the lemongrass project. The work is ongoing and its impact is already measurable. Income has stabilised. Migration has slowed. Women are leading. And most importantly, a model now exists that can be adapted and applied to other rural communities across India.
What began as an experiment in sustainable farming has become a template for resilience, self-sufficiency, and rural revitalisation.
