Rural India is home of the original gig-economy worker. Enterprising villagers hop from tilling fields to tending shops, to door-to-door selling each day. Read the latest trends in micro-enterprises, rural start-ups and the shifting livelihoods of India’s villagers.
Livelihoods
This venture is all about Konkan coconuts
With limited availability, the Konkan coconut often goes unnoticed. On this World Coconut Day, we dive into its uniqueness through a conversation with a Goan entrepreneur involved in bringing it closer to the consumers.
The sweet story of Kolkata’s Rabrigram
Rabrigram’s women have raised the bar of economic prosperity by supplying over 1,000kg of Indian dessert rabri to Kolkata, every day – fetching the village an annual revenue of Rs 60 lakh.
Traditional snake boat race in Kerala waters
During monsoon season, southern Kerala hosts Vallam Kali, a thrilling water sport. Snake boats called Chundan Vallams race for victory, drawing crowds from India and abroad to witness this spectacular event.
Sikkim’s organic farming revolution offers a success model
With its lush landscapes and bountiful harvests, Sikkim stands as a testament to the potential of organic farming, inspiring a greener, healthier future for agriculture across the nation.
Odisha’s vanishing tasar silkworm needs safety cocoon
Multi-pronged efforts have been launched to protect Similipal’s Modal ecorace silkworms, but more needs to be done to ensure that our future generations can continue to marvel at the delicate tasar silk produced by them.
Kashmir’s purple revolution with lavender cultivation
Prized for its oil, lavender blooms are being farmed on parcels considered wastelands before and these have cast a spell of hope, a promise of prosperity entwined with fragrance.
Join Village Square’s Webinar Series on Development Issues
Webinar - "How Solar Power is Revolutionizing Irrigation for the Rural Poor". Learn from experts about sustainable solutions for remote rural areas, discussing technical, social, and income-enhancing aspects.
Pickled cashews & more at this women-run factory in Goa
From pickled to smoked cashews and more, this cashew factory with mostly women employees offers flavourful treats and a heartwarming story.
Why Kerala needs revival of Kaipad rice
Traditional salt-tolerant rice varieties grown in coastal Kaipad lands are set on a revival course. But farmers need more support to produce the nutrient-rich organic crop.