Livelihoods Portal

03/06/2026

Andhra Pradesh Community managed Natural Farming programme (APCNF), has won the 2026 Food Planet Prize of 1.5 million$ due to transitioning 1.8 million farming families to natural farming systems, and ensuring higher farmers' incomes.

The Central Government has asked the states to prioritise sowing pulses and oilseeds in the upcoming kharif sowing season, due to potential fertiliser supply disruptions from West Asia, and a below-normal Southwest monsoon prediction in India.

India's wheat procurement rose by 17% to more than 35 Million Tonnes in 2026-27 rabi season, due to a 120.65 MT harvest. Punjab led with 12.1 MT, followed by MP (10.4 MT), Haryana (8.1 MT): Study.

The RBI Monetary Policy Committee has started its 3 day meeting. It is expected that repo rate will remain unchanged at 5.25%, April's retail inflation at 3.48%: Study.

If oil prices rise by 50%, the import bills of 75 vulnerable countries could rise by 20.4 billion$ p.a. : Study.

Despite Namami Gange funding since 2014, Uttarakhand has not completed its target of preventing untreated waste from entering the Ganges. 12 of 44 sewage treatment plants discharge untreated waste directly: Study.

CrudeOil

03/06/2026

Akshara Livelihoods is happy to congratulate APCNF on winning the Food Planet Prize 2026.

This recognition is not just for an organisation, but for the larger cause of natural farming and for the thousands of farmers, community resource persons, field teams, and especially women who have contributed to making natural farming a reality on the ground.

We are proud to be associated with this movement in our own small way—through conducting a comparative study in 2021 between farmers practicing natural farming under the APCNF program and farmers outside the program, assessing yield, cost, and other key parameters; undertaking the Behavior Change Study to Understand the Drivers of Natural Farming Transitions in Andhra Pradesh; documenting case studies of over 100 natural farmers; and supporting the facilitation of a pilot natural farming initiative in Telangana in partnership with Rythu Sadhikara Samstha (RySS).

The philosophy of natural farming resonates strongly with Akshara Livelihoods' belief in natural living, nature-based livelihoods, and development approaches that work in harmony with nature.

Congratulations to the entire APCNF team and everyone who has contributed to this journey.

The win is not just for natural farming.

The win is for the planet. 🌍

02/06/2026

The average temperatures in India will rise by 1.5°C by 2040. 40 coastal districts will see summer temperatures rise by more than 1°C. Western coast will get wetter but hotter, and Odisha and WB will see less monsoon rainfall: Study.

75.78% of Delhi's area is now constantly heat-stressed, and temperatures are above 45°C. 98.72% of Delhi has crossed the 45°C threshold at least once in the past decade: Study.

2025 wildfires were the costliest on record, with insured losses being 38% of the world's natural hazard damages, despite the global burn area being less than 16%, and emissions falling to 11 billion tonnes of CO2: Study.

India has changed the Wholesale Price Index's base year to 2022-23, which increases the commodity coverage from 697 to 957 items. A new Producer Price Index will be introduced, covering 7 major service sectors: Study.

Climate change has severely damaged India's Alphonso mango crop, as unseasonal rains, cold winter temperatures and intense heatwaves have reduced Ratnagiri's orchard output to 30-40% of normal levels: Study.

82% of Urban Indians feel stressed, 14% find it unmanageable, and 41% are following financial goals which negatively impact their physical and mental well-being: Study.

02/06/2026

Yogakshemam 020426

Systems do change

deKoder. An AI driven website, app and research lab. With one of the largest databases on Indian elections. Content available in English & 14 Indian languages. Subscribers can use its content for their own research and analysis. It is planning several social campaigns on the environment, wildlife, the girl child, health, and other important future issues. Should we partner with such groups? Should we add one more in the NF domain? NFFS domain. N life, livelihoods domain.

Shouldn't we have several units, circles, and teams, for People? Appreciating people’s pulse, perceptions, processes, institutions, and so on? Serving. Groups, Federations, and Collectives. Support Organizations, enterprises, and individuals. NGOs, CSOs, Development organizations, Government Organizations, Projects, Programmes, and Missions. Support individuals, volunteers, resource persons, and experts. Governments, Donors, Markets. Stakeholders. Stakeholder engagement.

How do we organize ourselves? 10-20 coworking leads. Each with their own anchor circle of members. These members can participate in other circles, on a give and take basis. Are we offering a platform, a forum to cowork, coexist, and colive? What will be these circles, leads? How will a circle come into being? How will a lead come on board, and what will she bring to the board? What will be the stakes, investments, works, people, and results? Can we get various units and partners to work hand-in-hand with this? Livelihoods support organizations-enterprises; Kshetras – field stations; Sakthis – time giving volunteers; Collectives of Resource Teams, Groups, Professionals; Networks, Channels, Gurukulams, Consulting units et al. Can we get all our coexisters join in?

How do we restructure, reorganize HR? 2-way, 3-way matrix – geographic, multi-thematic? Field versus Field management versus Central leadership? How can we have operational field spearheads; pilots, support analytics, and linkages; research, education and learning; deep-tech; systems change et al, all in one room, envelope, portfolio? Or how do we organize so that synergies are not lost?

NIIT India Skills Gap Report 2026: Internal expertise gaps are the hardest to fill.

Oxfam study: Untaxed offshore wealth held by the world's richest 0.1%, now exceeds the total wealth of the poorer 50% of the world's humans. USD 12 trillion is hidden away in tax havens.

AMUL crosses Rs.1 Lakh Crore turnover.

Any system, social, political, or economic – wants to sustain itself. By ‘natural’ habits, practices, culture, and some norms. These can change with time, needs, and circumstances. Systems may not be perfect, but persist as long as they work; benefiting some, harming some, over time. Despite inequalities, making the status quo system change becomes difficult. At some point, ‘this system doesn’t work for us’ feeling grows. Balance between change towards reducing growing inequities, increasing fairness and justice, and stability for peace is tug-of-war, never easy. It is necessary for survival, systems’ survival. Can we be there in efforts for these necessary systems changes for the N-world? Changing arrows, capitals, contexts, and continuums, in general, and for the poor-vulnerable-marginalized in particular. Can we develop N-portfolio 2026 upwards? Can every one of us put our two cents in this portfolio?

Yes, we can. If we coexist, flowing. Moving systems wheels within wheels. In N? tantrayoga for 7L.

https://livelihoods.net.in/2026/06/systems-do-change-020426/

Systems may not be perfect, but persist as long as they work; benefiting some, harming some, over time. Despite inequalities, making the status quo system change becomes difficult. At some point, ‘this system doesn’t work for us’ feeling grows. Balance between change towards reducing growing i...

01/06/2026

Overuse of chemicals, and monocropping, has reduced the efficiency of fertiliser uptake at just 30%-40% (nitrogen efficiency) and 15%-20% (phosphorus efficiency) in Indian agriculture: Study.

The Central Government has raised the procurement price for onions by 24% to Rs. 15.8 per kg, to ensure a buffer of 5 lakh tonnes of onions for the season to ensure buffer against potential retail price spikes.

Shivraj Singh Chouhan launched the 'Khet Bachao Abhiyan', in Raisen, Madhya Pradesh, to boost the use of fertilisers and soil health cards, in 12,979 awareness camps.

Women face higher health risks like chronic pain and mental illness than men, led by low back pain (478.5 more DALYs per 1 lakh people) than men, in the world. Men suffer 45% more health risks due to COVID and heart disease: Study.

There is a need to revive native 'orphan crops' for protein security, as only 170 of the world's 30,000 edible plant species are commercially cultivated, and rice, maize, wheat and potatoes account for almost 60% of total calories: Study.

31.4% of children under the age of 5 years, in Madhya Pradesh, are stunted. Underweight children rose from 33% to 39.7%, and wasting rose from 18.9% to 23.8%: NFHS-6 Report.

29/05/2026

Yogakshemam 310326

Rushed steady leaps

The Dalai Lama’s refuge in India, 67. Google’s Gmail, 22.

Sadgati, J Rajan’s Amma.

Raj Sitaraman@60 – Raj Sitaraman – Kritika Sankari Bhutashuddi Vovaah.

Balendra Shah’s Government in Nepal has decided to formally apologize to Dalit and historically marginalized communities who have faced decades of oppression and discrimination. It would acknowledge past injustices and aim to build a foundation for social justice and reconciliation. It issued an official apology and announced special reform programs to support the upliftment of these communities within the next 15 days. :).

Parliament has passed the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2026, amending the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014. This accords statutory status to Amaravati as the sole capital of Andhra Pradesh.

FCRA Amendment Bill, 2026 seeks to vest foreign contribution and assets of the FCRA registration cancelled or not renewed in the Designated Authority, till the renewal or restoration of registration. On expiry of the prescribed period, these assets would be treated as vested permanently with the Designated Authority. The Designated Authority is required to apply the foreign contribution and assets permanently vested in it for public purposes.

N-centre, N-Higher Learning Institute. Thought Leader. Flagship programs; Partnerships; Joint Projects; Policy, Consulting in Research, Evidence, Policy, Education, Knowledge, and Learning. Can this be up and running in 2027? How big will it be to start with? 100 - 50 leadership, distinguished fellows, dedicated teams, and core support; 50 support associates/team(s); 50 partners. 50 fellowships/ scholarships. Access to 1000 visiting faculty hours a year. 5,000 Research and learning landscapes, living labs, and field stations. 200,000 sft built-up area, in 25 Ha land. 10MUSD recurring costs/year; 25M USD corpus/endowment; 10M Digital facilities, platforms. All together 100M USD to take off. Can it take off? Within the next 365 days?

Vivekaananda’s Chicago speech, 133. – ‘I am in a tremendous hurry, I want to work at hurricane speed, and I want fearless hearts.’ Can we have these hearts and minds for N?

Love. An art that must be learned and practiced. It involves four key elements: Care, Responsibility, Respect, and Knowledge. Like any art, love requires effort, discipline, concentration, patience, and serious practice. Can we have discipline, self-directed learning, leading, and living? Can we become capable of love, loving? Love calls for transcending us, through awareness, faith and courage. It lets go. It accepts uncertainties. It takes risks. Can we develop our capacity for this? To understand, give, and relate deeply. Can we change, transform ourselves for this? Capable.

N-portfolio, 2026 upwards. Dedicated team in a month; weekly notes for self, from self; letters received and sent; books; stories; case studies; and three messages a day – text, picture, and video; 10+ daily acts – read, write, arithmetic, crossword, reflect, diary, log, observe, picture, video et al; lyrical notes; writing in Telugu; working team(s); N-centre - NHLI; Stations; Channel(s); Conversations; Yatra; School; Ashram; Landscape(s), R&L Landscapes; Digital/Data; AI; Leaders; Learning programs; Field Champions, Mentors; cohorts, fellows; livelihoods; enterprises; collectives. Can we have portfolio plan(s), tracking dashboard, and governing circle(s)?

Can we live? Can we become capable? Can we learn, offer learning, leverage, link, lead, and serve?

Yes, we can. If we coexist, flowing. Geometric, exponential nudges. In N? nadanirjharayoga for 7L.

https://livelihoods.net.in/2026/05/rushed-steady-leaps-310326/

N-portfolio, 2026 upwards. Dedicated team in a month; weekly notes for self, from self; letters received and sent; books; stories; case studies; and three messages a day – text, picture, and video; 10+ daily acts – read, write, arithmetic, crossword, reflect, diary, log, observe, picture, video ...

28/05/2026

Median schooling rose from 3.83 years in 1950 to 10.87 years in 2000, but birth based circumstances still decide 59% of educational inequality, 54% of wage variance and 43% of consumption inequality: Study.

Air pollution and aerosols have reduced India's solar power output by 9.6% in 2023, a net loss of 15 Terawatt hours of electricity: Study.

Air India and the Indian Army have partnered up to recruit 20 war widows, and 40 of their children for airport operations, and establish vocational labs in 25 Army supported ASHA schools for specially abled children, boosting their skills.

Global temperatures will remain near record levels till 2030, and there is a 91% probability that at least 1 year that will cross the 1.5°C pre-industrial warming threshold: Study.

Targeted housing placement can reduce car commutes up to a 26 km radius in monocentric areas (city with one dominant centre of finance, commerce and government) and up to 36 kms in polycentric areas (city with multiple dominant areas): Study.

India's Total Fertility Rate (TFR) has fallen to 1.9 in 2024, which is below the population replacement level of 2.1. Bihar has the highest TFR at 2.9, and Delhi has lowest TFR at 1.2: Study.

28/05/2026

Yogakshemam 270326

N-centre

Equinox. Water day – water’s vital role; freshwater; safe water; sustainable management of water resources; water security, water and sanitation for all.

Water, H2O. Vital for all known forms of life. ~71% of Earth's surface, and some 1.386 billion cubic kilometres. 96.5% water is in seas, oceans; 1.7% groundwater; 1.7% glaciers, ice caps, water vapour. 69% global freshwater is in glaciers and permanent snow cover; 30% in groundwater; 1% in lakes, rivers, the atmosphere, and biota. 70-80% of fresh water used by humans goes to agriculture. The water cycle continuously exchanges water within the hydrosphere, between the atmosphere, soil water, surface water, groundwater, and plants. Water moves perpetually through each of these regions in the water cycle through: ev***ration; transpiration; precipitation, from water v***r condensing from the air and falling to the earth or ocean, and runoff from the land usually reaching the sea, via streams/rivers. Rivers serve as centres of civilization.

Metabolism is the sum total of anabolism and catabolism. In anabolism, water is removed from molecules to grow larger molecules. In catabolism, water is used to break bonds to generate smaller molecules. Without water, these particular metabolic processes could not exist. Water is fundamental to both photosynthesis and respiration. Photosynthetic cells use the sun's energy to split off water's hydrogen from oxygen. Hydrogen is combined with CO2 to form glucose and release oxygen. All living cells use such fuels and oxidize the hydrogen and carbon to capture the sun's energy and reform water and CO2 in the process - cellular respiration. Water is also central to acid-base neutrality and enzyme function. Also, earth's surface waters are filled with life.

We need to take in 2.2 litres per day of water (women); 3 litres (men). 100-200 litres per day is used by us for our hygiene, cooking etc. However, 20-30% of the population lack access to adequate safe, potable, fresh water, despite having enough water for everyone. Water industry includes drinking water supply, waste water services, water collection/extraction/purification – distillation, desalination, recycling, reducing pollution et al. Plus industrial use; power generation.

Theatre. Staged performances, the venues, the technologies - digital, 3D, immersive.

Piano. Crucial keying musical instrument.

Saina Nehwal and Parupalli Kashyap reconciled to stay together.

Ninth day of Chaitra Navaratri. Sree Rama Navami. Rama’s birthday, Rama and Sita’s marriage day. Rama, Sree Rama, Ramachandra, considered the seventh avatar of Vishnu. Ramayana’s protagonist. His rule was described as Rama Rajya - an ideal, harmonious society featuring universal peace, immense prosperity, absence of disease and fear, and just ruling mechanisms dedicated entirely to the welfare of all subjects. Do we see Rama Rajya happening any time soon? A governance based on morality, justice, and truth? Near zero infant mortality, near zero premature deaths, near zero diseases et al? Abundance, prosperity, and happiness? Social harmony, no crime? Wellbeing of all life? Ethical, democratic leadership?

Can we appreciate why this Iran war is happening? And how long will it continue? It has escalated into a regional war. Supply chains are affected severely globally. Many casualties, civilian deaths, and displacements of millions of people. When is the pause becoming a ceasefire?

Government of India (Cabinet) approves India’s Nationally Determined Contribution (2031-2035) on Climate Change, aligned with Net Zero by 2070: reduce Emissions Intensity of its GDP by 47% by 2035 from 2005 level; 60% cumulative electric power installed capacity from non-fossil fuel-based energy resources by 2035; Carbon Sink of 3.5-4.0 billion tonnes of CO₂ eq. through Forest and Tree Cover by 2035 from 2005 level.

As discussed with Tushar Shah, Professor Emeritus, IRMA, about the High Performing Higher Knowledge Institution, with NF Food System as its spine. An institution of significance with a broad mandate of research, policy, teaching, training and consulting. An intellectual resource centre. Usefully engaged in acquiring, creating, imparting and applying knowledge to address pressing needs of the society; and its value determined by the quality and scale of its contribution in addressing social needs.

Yes, it may require a big piece of land, a large infrastructure, a big corpus/endowment. For it to become an institution, more than a pure training institute, more than a pure research institute, more than a pure management-leadership school, more than a design institute, it adapts to meet the needs and values over time; its internal structures aligned to values; it influences the ecosystems linked to it. Institutions face resource crunch if they are mediocre; their poor governance and leadership might have been sown in its birth-process itself. It is not at all easy to correct these `birth-defects’ and take the institution to a significantly higher trajectory. A successful institution survives long enough, because of its contribution; genuinely enjoys autonomy; demonstrates intrinsic value; influences the environment on scale, with intensive quality; and shows spread-effects.

Seven distinct areas of superior performance matter - high-end competent and talented faculty selection, development and rewards; portfolio of limited but effective high quality useful, relevant, regular, and recurring core products and services, with involvement of all faculty – it is not so much each working on some thing or the other independently; organisation structure – matrix-flat, multi-disciplinary circles, self-regulating and unorthodox ‘one faculty’ multiple membership ‘equals’ design; efficient effective functional infrastructure and support systems, with very low numbers of support staff within; funding and resource generation, including core support, grants-in-aid, corpus, projects/consulting assignments, fee-based products and services; organisational culture, of self-regulation, self-discipline, of creativity, exploring possibilities, not so much by written rules, do’s and don’ts; and management and operating policies including high level of activity, periodic review-reflection-visioning.

Important lessons to keep in mind include: conceiving, designing and launching right – concept and bold vision and great purpose. Enormous entrepreneurial energy, resources, talent, foresight and imagination in design, launch. Interested, respected, autonomous and self-perpetuating governance structures/Boards/Executive Committees. High quality of operating leadership – leader and core team, with reasonably long tenure. The leaders take it as life-time’s work, and in that spirit, give all they have to their job; they function truly as `reflective practitioners’, learning a great deal `on-the-job’; building-serving the team(s). Then the funds and resources endowed to an extent, not everything - a substantial amount to be generated every year. Launch would include: form, articles, registration, etc., first Board, first leader/director, infra, funding arrangements, first core team/group, first collaborations, first programs/activities, ethos/culture related.

Can this N-HLI, N-centric High Performance Higher Learning Institute, be a reality soon? Intellectual nerve centre, resource centre, for NFFS. A discipline, a portfolio of exemplars in the making. Future leaders, systems, policies, curricula, literature, deep-tech, technologies, and movements. Research and learning models, landscapes, living labs, field stations, geographies, and partners. Diverse, across.

Can we live, lead, learn, love? Expressed, lived in action. Serving, giving, being useful, relevant. Without asking. Can this be the life-time work, legacy? Now, soon.

Yes, we can. If we coexist, flowing. 1+1, 1+12 in the kshetra. In N? navapallavayoga for 7L.

https://livelihoods.net.in/2026/05/n-centre-270326/

Can this N-HLI, N-centric High Performance Higher Learning Institute, be a reality soon? Intellectual nerve centre, resource centre, for NFFS. A discipline, a portfolio of exemplars in the making. Future leaders, systems, policies, curricula, literature, deep-tech, technologies, and movements. Resea...

27/05/2026

16.7% of rural Indian teenagers face severe stress, mainly due to academic and socio-economic factors. 80% of rural Indian teenagers lack access to mental healthcare: Study.

Severe heatwaves pushed India's peak power demand to 270.8 GW on 21st May 2026, of which 22% was met by solar energy. Urban heat island effects alongside prolonged AC usage could threaten overall grid stability: Study.

Electricity must reach 35% of the world's energy usage by 2035, and 50% by 2050, to meet the 1.5°C goal. This requires annual grid investment to double to 1 trillion$: Study.

CPI education index has risen from 89 in 2013 to more than 195 in 2025, i.e. a 5.01% increase p.a. Real education inflation is estimated to be 10-12%. Parents spend 20-30% of their annual income on their kids' schooling: Study.

Rising temperatures are leading to major koala mortality in Australia, as Koalas exposed to temperatures above 30°C are 1.5 to 3.5 times more likely to die. The Gunnedah population has already become functionally extinct: Study.

NAREDCO Telangana, has signed a MOU with the Engineering Staff College of India, to enhance construction and infrastructure skill development.

27/05/2026

Yogakshemam 250326

New discipline

26 days of Iran-Israel-US war. We are worried about ourselves, our immediate worlds. We seem to be watching. Muted, passive. We are worried about safe passages through the Strait of Hormuz. Gas, Oil et al. Each one of us are worried about our local interests, local economic interests. Not about peace. Not about stopping the war. We cannot even mourn the dead. Why is this war? Any justified cause? Why is it killing civilians then? Why is this talk of a pause, why not an end?

GIZ’s Rajeev Ahal is ‘retyring’. Towards a portfolio of `scale-out’ and `scale-in’ for population level diffusion and impacts. Landscape level systems, economies. His new current portfolio includes: Executive Director, Himalayan Institute for Transformative Actions, HITA; Anchor, Policy engagement, Consortium for Agroecological Transformations, CAT; Associated with - Gulmeher Foundation, Shakti Foundation India; Support – The Kutumb, homestay, HP. More to come.

Trust matters. Traceability, Endorsement, Authenticity matters – through brand, label, certificate.

The past few weeks have taken us into reflections, conversations on the need, scope; structure, size; resources, culture et al of higher learning institute/institutions. More than organizations, networks, forums, and platforms. Conversed with people behind extraordinary institutional build-ups - ISB, IIMA, IRMA, NDDB, AMUL, and the current ‘leaders’. We are exploring whether we need one with an NF backbone. The response is a resounding yes. The scope, therefore, has to be bold, yet feasible, possible – IIMA’s ‘Intellectual nerve centre, excellence in scholarship, leaders, for Indian Industry’; Dairy Board’s inclusive sustainable milk, agriculture and allied; or prosperity of small and marginal farmers through cooperation; AMUL’s farmers’ prosperity through best value for customers in dairy and food; IRMA’s managers and leaders for sustainable rural prosperity, in rural India; ISB’s business thought leadership and research-driven business leaders for India and the world.

What will it be or this? Inclusive climate resilient circular/cyclical NF Food System in India and outside? More than research, evidence; more than training; more than supply chain management; more than quality control? Deep-tech, systems change, policy, movement, management, integration, strategy, leadership. Mentoring, Participation, Practice, Agency, Inclusion, People’s Institutions, Sustainability. Creating and spreading a discipline of science/practice/study.

No compromise on key HR, faculty; participants’ eligibility; quality research, education, learning processes, and systems. Globally bench-marked. Knowledge repository. Flagships: 100-180 day Senior Leadership; 1-year leadership for the working professional; 2-year management for the young executive leaders; 5-6 year integrated for highly talented. Cohorts would be small, not exceeding 100. 50%+ field, practice-centric pedagogy/andragogy. Case discussions, live labs, group learning. Partners/employers inclusion in mentoring, teaching, assignments.

Founders, Board, Team, Leader matter. Catching them young matters. Endowment, scholarships too.

Do we understand ageing? Dignified ageing. As the brain ages, our memory becomes weak. As muscles age, we may walk a bit slowly, we may work a bit slowly. We may have to move more. We may have to spend more time in the sun. Take rest, lie down, if not sleep. If arms and legs are hurting, as the nervous system ages, we may have to do some exercise. A little higher blood pressure, 150/90 or 160/100 mmHg is all right, as we age. We need company to connect, converse, talk, eat, walk et al. Let us not be lonely. Let us not stop working, reading, writing et al. Let us be in-charge of our lives till the end. Let us look at stages as: 50-70/75 years, middle age; 70-80/85, golden age; then old age.

Can we realize this HLI? Can we get a satisfying portfolio? Can we age with dignity, leaving legacies?

Yes, we can. If we coexist, flowing. Being at it, relentless, inch-by-inch. In N? nirantarayoga for 7L.

https://livelihoods.net.in/2026/05/new-discipline-250326/

We are exploring whether we need one with an NF backbone. The response is a resounding yes. The scope, therefore, has to be bold, yet feasible, possible – IIMA’s ‘Intellectual nerve centre, excellence in scholarship, leaders, for Indian Industry’; Dairy Board’s inclusive sustainable milk, ...