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
Lemongrass flavours prosperity in Odisha’s Koraput
Farmers in Koraput are transitioning to lemongrass cultivation, supported by the district’s horticulture department and the Odisha government, as the herb offers a higher return than traditional crops.
‘We need to empower artisans to create market-ready designs’
Rural craftspersons have to be trained in costing, pricing, marketing, understanding consumers, packaging and storytelling to help them become successful entrepreneurs.
Golden empowerment: Women effect change through turmeric
In a remote village in Jharkhand, women take to turmeric cultivation and processing – learning everything from scratch, transforming their lives and inspiring other women to follow in their footsteps.
Patiala sisters balance school, goat farming to reap success
These two teenagers have turned a family need for goat milk into a successful business in Bahadurgarh, Punjab. Starting with a single goat, they now manage 65 goats of various breeds, producing milk, ghee and paneer.
eNAM digital revolution empowers tribal farmers in Odisha’s Nabarangpur
eNAM is connecting tribal farmers directly with buyers across India, eliminating middlemen, ensuring fair prices, and promoting transparency, efficiency, and accessibility in agricultural trading.
Another brick in the wall: The story of a brick-making village
In a village in the periphery of Bhopal, the capital of Madhya Pradesh, where brick kiln workers toil hard, difficult circumstances force their children to forego education, ending in a cycle of hardships across generations
Meet the last alchemists of Agaria tribe, forging iron from stones
The Agaria tribe’s legacy of turning ‘kaleji patthar’ stones into high-grade iron is kept alive by this uncle-nephew duo from rural Madhya Pradesh, who use traditional methods passed down through generations.
Pandemic-spurred self-help group is making huge strides in Punjab
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Veerpal Kaur from Sem Kalan village founded Shagun Ajivika, selling handmade traditional items, and the group now includes over 15 women who make products that celebrate Punjab’s legacy.
Kesar mangoes travel from Nashik’s tribal farms to US supermarkets
Tribal farmers of Nashik in Maharashtra have revolutionised mango cultivation, boosting productivity, while access to organic certification and international markets has led to successful exports of the kesar variety to the US.