#maharashtra

[miamaimania]

"Cows Up High" ~ Maharashtra, India ◆ They know where the ridge goes; we don't

[uroko]

A trip down memory rain ♡

[inatcanids]

Dhole (Cuon alpinus)

Observed by simonedurigon, CC BY-NC

[thebeastsofindia]

Striped Hyena (Hyaena hyaena), family Hyaenidae, order Carnivora, Maharashtra, India

Photo by sameer_kote

[reasonsforhope]

Degraded Lands Transformed into Productive Farms: With Science, We Can Create Wonders

40 years of erratic rainfall, groundwater depletion, soil erosion, and crop failures have impoverished the local people of Latur.

"In a degraded and semi-arid farming area in India, simple science-driven changes to the landscape have colored the horizon, and a village’s fortunes, with green.

In the Latur district in the central western state of Maharashtra, 40 years of erratic rainfall, groundwater depletion, soil erosion, and crop failures have impoverished the local people.

In the village of Matephal, the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) launched a project in 2023 that aimed at addressing these challenges through integrated landscape management and climate-smart farming practices. [Note: Meaning they've achieved this much in just two years!]

Multiple forms of data collection allowed ICRISAT to target precise strategies for each challenge facing the 2,000 or so people in Matephal.

Key interventions focused on three critical areas: water conservation, land enhancement with crop diversification, and soil health improvement. Rainwater harvesting structures recharged groundwater around 1,200 acres, raising water tables by 12 feet and securing reliable irrigation. Farm ponds provided supplemental irrigation, while embanking across 320 acres reduced soil erosion.

Farmers diversified their crops, converting 120 or so acres of previously fallow land into productive farmland with legumes, millets, and vegetables. Horticulture-linked markets for fruits and flowers improved income stability.

Weather monitoring equipment was also installed that actively informed sustainable irrigation practices.

“It is a prime example of how data-driven approaches can address complex agricultural challenges, ensuring interventions are precise and impactful. Matephal village is a model for other semi-arid regions in India and beyond,” said Dr. Stanford Blade, Director General-Interim at ICRISAT.

Farmers actively participated in planning and decision-making, fostering long-term commitment.

“This ICRISAT project improved yields, diversified crops, and boosted incomes. It also spared women from walking over a kilometer for drinking water, now available in the village for people and animals,” said Mr. Govind Hinge of Matephal village.

Looking ahead, ICRISAT writes it wants to use Matephal as a case study to scale these methods across India’s vast and drier average. As Matephal’s fields flourish, the village is a testament to the power of collaboration and science in transforming lives and landscapes."

-Article via Good News Network, March 3, 2025. Video via International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), February 26, 2025

[gvnther-hopeful]

[vestaignis]

В чарующей зелени гор Сахьядри.

Прекрасные горные хребты протянулись по берегам полуострова Индостан, с его северной части до южной. Западные Гаты или, как их еще называют, Сахьядри, являются объектом Всемирного наследия ЮНЕСКО и одной из 8 биосистем на планете с самым широким разнообразием живых организмов. Окутанный мистикой и представляющий собой идеальное место для оздоровления и медитаций курорт может похвастаться мягким климатом и хорошей погодой в любое время года. Ученые утверждают, что Западные Гаты – это не совсем горы в привычном для нас понимании. Эти складки земной коры образовались во времена распада суперконтинента Гондвана, в итоге они стали частью гигантского плато на окраине современного полуострова Индостан. От бескрайних просторов Индийского океана их отделяет только небольшая живописная равнина.

Западные Гаты представляют собой один большой природный заповедник, в котором можно встретить животных, которые не обитают больше ни в одном уголке планеты. Их диковинные названия – колючая соня, индийский леопард, львинохвостый макак и гульман капюшонный – заставляют путешественников с увлечением знакомиться с удивительным животным миром этих мест. Помимо трех сотен редчайших видов животных здесь можно встретить павианов и слонов, а также полюбоваться большими колониями ярких бабочек.

In the enchanting greenery, the mountains of Sahyadri.

Beautiful mountain ridges stretched along the shores of the Indian Peninsula, from its northern to southern part. The Western Gates or, as they are also called, the Sahyadri are a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the eight biosystems on the planet with the widest diversity of living organisms. Bathed in mysticism, the resort is an ideal place for wellness and meditation, boasting a mild climate and good weather at any time of year.

Scientists argue that the Western Gates are not exactly mountains as we understand them. These crust deposits were formed during the disintegration of the supercontinent Gondwana, and eventually became part of a giant plateau on the edge of what is now the peninsula of Indonesia. The vast expanses of the Indian Ocean are separated by a small, picturesque plain.

The West Gates are one large nature reserve, where you can find animals that no longer inhabit any part of the planet. Their bizarre names - barnacle, Indian leopard, lion-tail macaw and gull-hooded - make travelers eager to get to know the amazing animal world of these places. In addition to the three hundred rare species of animals, you can find peacocks and elephants, as well as admire the large colonies of colorful butterflies.

Источник: /www.svoiludi.ru/india/zapadnye-gaty.html, https://www.keralatourism.org/russian/kerala-article/western-ghats/188, //mustvisit.ru/product/kumbhe-waterfall/, //www.thefreebird.net/treks/kumbhe-waterfall/, //in.pinterest.com/ pin/1013380353651677420/.