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| Walmart Foundation Supports 35,000 Farming Households in Climate-Resilient Agriculture |
WOTR Launches ProRISE-II with Walmart Foundation Support to Strengthen Climate Resilience and Livelihoods of 35,000 Farming Households
The initiative will work with 40 Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) across five districts in Maharashtra and Karnataka, focusing on climate-resilient agriculture, sustainable natural resource management, farmer-owned enterprises and improved market access.
Pune, Maharashtra, 30th October 2026 : Climate change is increasingly affecting agriculture, particularly in drought-prone and semi-arid regions where smallholder farmers depend heavily on rainfall and natural resources. Unpredictable weather, water scarcity, rising input costs and market uncertainties are making farming livelihoods more vulnerable.
Addressing these challenges, the Watershed Organisation Trust (WOTR), with support from the Walmart Foundation, has launched ProRISE-II (Project on Resilient Incomes for Smallholder Farmers through an Ecosystems Approach, Phase-II).
Announced in Pune, Maharashtra, on October 29, 2026, the initiative aims to strengthen climate resilience, improve farm incomes and expand market opportunities for 35,000 farming households across Maharashtra and Karnataka.
The programme will work with 40 Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) across five districts, combining climate-resilient agricultural practices, sustainable natural resource management, stronger farmer-owned enterprises and digital technologies.
What Is WOTR's ProRISE-II Project?
ProRISE-II is the second phase of an initiative designed to improve the resilience and economic security of smallholder farmers through an integrated ecosystem-based approach.
Rather than focusing only on agricultural production, the programme aims to address several interconnected challenges affecting rural farming communities, including climate risks, declining natural resources, limited market access and institutional capacity.
The initiative will focus on:
- Supporting 35,000 farming households across Maharashtra and Karnataka.
- Working with 40 Farmer Producer Organisations across five districts.
- Promoting climate-resilient agricultural practices.
- Strengthening soil and water resource management.
- Improving farmers' access to markets and buyers.
- Building stronger and professionally managed farmer-owned enterprises.
- Encouraging digital technology in agriculture and agribusiness.
- Promoting women's participation in FPO leadership and decision-making.
The broader objective is to help farming communities become better equipped to manage climate and market uncertainties while building sustainable sources of income.
ProRISE-I: Building on the Experience of the First Phase
ProRISE-II builds on the experience and outcomes of the programme's first phase, ProRISE-I, which supported more than 11,800 farmers through 11 FPOs in Maharashtra's Solapur, Dharashiv and Jalna districts.
The first phase focused on strengthening income resilience and improving the market competitiveness of smallholder farmers in semi-arid regions.
Some of its reported achievements include:
- More than 11,800 farmers supported through 11 FPOs.
- Combined business turnover of ₹44.86 crore generated by participating FPOs.
- 12 groups established to pursue Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) certification.
- Improved adoption of climate-resilient agricultural practices.
- Stronger market connections and development of branded agricultural products.
These outcomes provide the foundation for expanding the programme to additional farming communities under ProRISE-II.
Farmers' Income Increased During the First Phase
One of the notable outcomes reported under ProRISE-I was an improvement in farmers' average net income from crop sales.
Over three years, participating project farmers reported an increase in average net income from ₹1,57,046 to ₹2,37,184.
For comparison, average net income among comparison households increased from ₹1,37,392 to ₹1,90,078 during the same period.
| Category | Initial Average Net Income | After Three Years |
|---|---|---|
| Project farmers | ₹1,57,046 | ₹2,37,184 |
| Comparison households | ₹1,37,392 | ₹1,90,078 |
These figures indicate a stronger increase in reported crop-sale income among participating project farmers during the period.
The programme also reported changes in farming practices and market engagement.
- 76% of sampled project farmers reported adopting improved crop varieties or climate-resilient practices.
- 55% reported reducing pesticide and chemical spray use.
- 32 buyers were engaged across the 11 participating FPOs.
- 52 products became part of a new branded portfolio.
The results highlight the potential of combining improved farming practices with stronger farmer institutions and market access.
How ProRISE-II Will Strengthen Climate-Resilient Agriculture
Climate resilience is one of the central pillars of the new programme. Farmers in drought-prone and semi-arid regions often face uncertainty over rainfall, soil moisture and water availability.
ProRISE-II will promote a combination of agricultural and natural resource management practices to address these challenges.
1. Improved Soil and Water Management
Healthy soil and reliable water resources are essential for sustainable agricultural production.
The programme will support improved soil and water management practices to help farmers conserve natural resources, improve farm productivity and reduce vulnerability to climate-related risks.
2. Promotion of Micro-Irrigation
Efficient water use is particularly important in drought-prone areas.
The initiative will promote micro-irrigation and other water-efficient approaches to help farmers make better use of available water resources.
3. Sustainable Farming and Bio-Inputs
The programme will encourage sustainable agricultural practices and access to bio-inputs.
These approaches are intended to support more environmentally responsible farming systems and reduce excessive dependence on chemical inputs.
4. Better Market Access and Value Addition
Agricultural production alone does not guarantee better incomes. Farmers also need reliable buyers, competitive prices and opportunities to add value to their produce.
ProRISE-II will work on strengthening aggregation, value addition, market connections and business opportunities for participating FPOs.
5. Digital Technologies for Agriculture and Agribusiness
Digital tools can support better information management, business operations and market connections.
The programme will promote the use of digital technologies to strengthen agricultural systems and improve the operational capabilities of farmer-owned enterprises.
Strengthening Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs)
Farmer Producer Organisations play an important role in helping smallholder farmers participate more effectively in agricultural markets.
An FPO enables farmers to come together, aggregate their produce, access agricultural inputs, connect with buyers and undertake collective business activities.
For individual smallholder farmers, negotiating with large buyers or accessing organised markets can be difficult. Collective institutions can help reduce these barriers by improving bargaining capacity and creating economies of scale.
Under ProRISE-II, WOTR will focus on strengthening FPO leadership, governance, management and business capabilities.
The programme aims to help these organisations become more professionally managed, market-oriented and financially sustainable.
Stronger FPOs can also create opportunities for aggregation, processing, value addition and improved market access, helping farmers participate more actively in the agricultural value chain.
Women's Participation and Gender-Responsive FPO Governance
Women's contribution to agriculture and rural livelihoods is significant, but their participation in formal leadership and decision-making structures can remain limited.
ProRISE-II will place emphasis on gender-responsive governance, ensuring that women have meaningful opportunities to participate in FPO leadership and decision-making.
The programme will also generate practical learning on inclusive governance models that can strengthen farmer institutions and support more equitable rural development.
Greater participation of women in farmer-owned enterprises can help make agricultural institutions more inclusive and responsive to the needs of farming households.
What WOTR and Walmart Foundation Say About the Initiative
Nishant Gupta, Social & Environmental Impact Advisor to Walmart.org, said that smallholder farmers are facing increasingly unpredictable climate conditions while trying to build secure and sustainable livelihoods.
He noted that the Walmart Foundation's support for ProRISE-II reflects efforts to strengthen the systems that support farmers, including climate-resilient agricultural practices, responsible natural resource management, stronger farmer-owned enterprises and improved market connections.
Sandip Jadhav, Director of WOTR, highlighted the importance of strengthening both farmers' livelihoods and their ability to make decisions about the future of their farms.
He emphasised that climate resilience requires better market access, viable farmer-owned businesses, sustainable management of natural resources and meaningful participation of women in FPO leadership.
According to him, strong Farmer Producer Organisations can bring these priorities together and help farming communities respond more effectively to climate and market uncertainties.
What Does ProRISE-II Aim to Achieve?
The programme has a broader objective of developing stronger and more sustainable farmer-owned enterprises while improving the livelihoods of smallholder farming households.
By the end of the project, ProRISE-II aims to support 30 FPOs across Maharashtra and Karnataka to become more climate-resilient, market-oriented and professionally managed.
Its key objectives include:
- Improving farmers' income and livelihood security.
- Promoting sustainable agricultural practices.
- Strengthening natural resource conservation.
- Improving FPO governance and business management.
- Increasing women's participation in leadership and decision-making.
- Developing sustainable agribusiness models.
- Generating evidence that can inform wider agricultural and rural development policies.
The programme will also document practical experiences and lessons that may help other organisations and support agencies replicate effective approaches in climate-vulnerable regions.
Building Resilient Farmers and Sustainable Rural Economies
The launch of ProRISE-II represents an important effort to connect climate-resilient agriculture with farmers' incomes, market opportunities and stronger rural institutions.
For smallholder farmers, climate resilience is not simply about adapting to changing weather. It also means having access to reliable water resources, sustainable farming practices, better markets, stronger collective organisations and opportunities to participate in economic decision-making.
By extending its work to 35,000 farming households and partnering with FPOs across Maharashtra and Karnataka, WOTR aims to strengthen the foundations of more resilient agricultural livelihoods.
The programme's long-term significance will depend on how effectively these approaches translate into improved incomes, stronger farmer-owned enterprises and sustainable natural resource management.
As climate risks continue to challenge Indian agriculture, initiatives that bring together farmers, institutions, markets and environmental sustainability will remain increasingly important.