India is grappling with a dual crisis of land degradation and climate change, with nearly 30% of its landmass degraded—threatening the well-being of over 500 million people who depend on agriculture and forestry. The impacts are particularly acute in semi-arid regions such as Jalna and Beed in central Maharashtra, and Belgaum and Hubli-Dharwad in northern Karnataka, where agriculture is predominantly rain-fed and highly climate-sensitive. The regions suffer from a range of developmental and climate–induced challenges, some of which are described below. 

Developmental and socio-economic challenges: 

• Land degradation: Beed and Jalna, part of the semi-arid Deccan Plateau, face severe soil erosion, depletion of organic matter, and declining soil fertility. Excessive use of chemical fertilisers and monoculture farming have compounded the problem. In Hubli-Dharwad and Belgaum, agricultural expansion has come at the cost of forest cover, further deteriorating land health. 

• Economic vulnerability: In these districts, agriculture accounts for a major share of livelihoods, yet farmers face declining incomes due to reduced yields. The dependence on cash crops like cotton, sugarcane, and soybean exacerbates financial risks in the face of fluctuating market prices and adverse weather. 

• Labour shortages due to youth migration – Widespread youth migration to urban areas in search of education and employment has led to labour shortages in rural agriculture, increasing the workload on aging and female-headed households. This migration, while economically aspirational, weakens the capacity of local communities to implement new agricultural practices or climate-resilient models at scale. 

Climate-induced challenges:

• Erratic rainfall and droughts: Jalna and Beed receive low and unpredictable rainfall (500-800 mm annually), making them highly susceptible to droughts. In recent years, rainfall variability has led to crop failures, water scarcity, and food insecurity. Hubli-Dharwad and Belgaum, though receiving moderate rainfall, have faced frequent droughts, unseasonal rain, and extreme weather events. 

• Depleting groundwater: Over-extraction of groundwater, coupled with reduced recharge due to deforestation and soil compaction, has made irrigation increasingly unsustainable. Beed, in particular, has seen groundwater tables drop drastically. 

• Loss of biodiversity: India has lost over 90% of its biodiversity hotspots, and these geographies are no exception. Deforestation in Belgaum and Hubli-Dharwad has reduced the availability of pollinators like bees and birds, critical for sustaining agriculture. 

• Frequent pest attacks: Rising temperatures and shifting rainfall patterns have increased pest infestations. In 2022, Marathwada (which includes Jalna and Beed) reported significant crop damage from pink bollworm infestations on cotton. 

• Extreme weather events: Jalna and Beed have experienced increased frequency of droughts and erratic rainfall. Similarly, Belgaum and Hubli-Dharwad have faced challenges such as unseasonal rains and temperature fluctuations, leading to crop damage and heightened vulnerability for farming communities. 

These compounding climate and socio-economic stressors are not isolated—they are systemic and escalating. As degraded soils become less productive and rainfall more erratic, farming is no longer a reliable source of income or nutrition in these regions. The absence of ecological buffers like tree cover and biodiversity further reduces the land’s ability to recover from shocks. The receding groundwater levels, increased deforestation and biodiversity loss mean that even when rains arrive, the ecosystem lacks the resilience to absorb and utilise it efficiently. Farmers are left with fewer options, shrinking margins, and heightened exposure to market and climate risks. 

If current trends continue, these regions face irreversible ecosystem collapse and deeper agricultural and livelihood distress. By 2040, the nutritional value of staple crops like rice and wheat may become negligible, heightening the risk of malnutrition and food insecurity across India. 

Proposed intervention 

To address this intertwined crisis of ecological degradation and climate vulnerability in Jalna, Beed, Belgaum, and Hubli-Dharwad, this project proposes restoring of 200 acres of degraded land to community-led agroforestry systems. This area of land will be part of the bigger landscape approach. Compared to conventional farming, agroforestry offers a practical, climate-aligned solution rooted in the realities of these landscapes: 

• Reversing land degradation and water stress: Native tree species integrated into farm systems will rebuild soil fertility, reduce erosion, and improve moisture retention—key to restoring productivity on degraded lands where rainfall is erratic, and groundwater is vanishing. 

• Diversifying and securing farmer incomes: Agroforestry provides multiple income streams through fruit, fodder, timber, and medicinal plants, reducing reliance on a single crop and buffering against price and climate shocks—especially crucial in regions like Marathwada where cotton farmers have suffered major losses from droughts and pest attacks. 

• Rebuilding local biodiversity and resilience: Mixed-species plantations will attract pollinators, stabilise microclimates, and offer natural pest control—helping regenerate ecological balance in areas like Belgaum, where deforestation has severely impacted farm productivity. 

• Sequestering carbon and supporting climate goals: Tree-based farming enhances carbon capture while creating natural buffers against extreme weather—directly contributing to India’s climate mitigation and adaptation goals. 

By anchoring restoration within farmers’ livelihoods, the project builds long-term resilience—turning degraded farmland into climate-smart landscapes that work for both people and nature.