The district of Udaipur, in Rajasthan, falls under the Sub-humid Southern Plain and Aravallis agro-climatic zone of the state, with average annual rainfall of 688 mm. The regions under this zone have predominantly hilly and undulating terrain, receive scanty rain, and often witness long dry spells, even during monsoons. These factors result in limited surface and groundwater resources and heavy topsoil erosion, resulting in low crop yields. For example, the proposed project site—a cluster of 38 villages in Kotra block, has a net sown area of only 19%, according to SRIJAN.

About 50% of the district’s population are scheduled tribes (STs), including the Bhils and Garasiya, some of the most backward tribes in the region. The landholdings of the tribal population in the district are fragmented and marginal (~0.53 ha per household). In Kotra, the proposed project block, tribal communities live in small, remote, and widely scattered hamlets. Such a tiny parcel of land, with limited access to agricultural inputs, irrigation, and credit, means that agriculture is a subsistence activity. To make ends meet, the community depends on income from multiple sources—non-timber forest produce (NTFP), agricultural labour on extensive farmlands in the plains, stone-cutting, livestock rearing, and work packages under Mahatma Gandhi Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).

Primary data collected by SRIJAN shows that NTFP contributes the most to household income within multiple avenues of income. Historically, the tribal communities in the region are ‘forest dwellers’ living within or on the fringes of forest areas and harvest forest produce for sale and consumption (fruits, seeds, berries, spice, herbs, etc.).

Lack of local opportunities and poor incomes lead to migration of the tribal population to other parts of the country. In Kotra block, for example, data collected by SRIJAN shows that, on average, 49% of households migrate seeking employment. Migration is significantly more common among men than women, burdening them (women) with additional responsibilities. For example, while women traditionally undertake livestock rearing and NTFP collection, they now have to engage in agriculture with limited knowledge and resources. Furthermore, hardships in earning a livelihood have affected women’s health in the region. Primary data suggests problems of food security (inadequacy) problems throughout the year, resulting in poor health outcomes. According to the national family health survey (NFHS 4, 2015-16), 74% of women aged 15-49 and 80% of children aged 6-59 months in Kotra block are anemic.