This report explores how climate change is affecting the everyday lives of rural communities in Assam and Manipur. Changes in weather patterns, like unpredictable rainfall, floods, longer dry spells, and rising temperatures, are creating serious problems for people who rely on farming and natural resources for their livelihoods. The report is prepared by Seven Sisters Development Assistance (SeSTA) with support from Axis Bank Foundation (ABF), This study focuses on how these environmental changes are impacting farming, income, health, and daily life in villages. Many farmers are struggling because crops are failing more often, pests and diseases are increasing, and seasons are no longer predictable. By bringing together voices from the ground, this study helps us understand the real-life impact of climate change, not as a future concern, but something rural families are already living with. It shows that with the right support and local action, communities can adapt and build a safer future.
The 'Women in Entrepreneurship' study looks at women entrepreneurs in rural Northeast India, exploring businesses in farm and non-farm areas. It studied what motivates them and the challenges they face. Many start businesses out of financial need and mostly use personal savings because formal loans are hard to get. They get good support from family and communities but struggle with high costs, limited access to markets, and very less linkages with government programs. Most businesses are small, local, and have few digital resources. The report recommends improving access to credit, skills training, markets, and infrastructure to help women grow their businesses.
This report explores the emerging potential of agro-ecotourism in rural Assam, focusing on the villages of Nishangram, Sutki, and Hatigao in Goalpara, and Sankarghola in Bongaigaon district. The study highlights how farming communities are blending traditional agricultural practices with sustainable tourism to create new livelihood opportunities through responsible tourism, while preserving their natural and cultural heritage. Through field interactions, it has been revealed that agro-ecotourism can foster community pride, strengthen women’s participation, and encourage youth to remain engaged in rural economies. Despite these positive shifts, issues such as poor infrastructure, limited training, and lack of promotional networks remain significant barriers. The report emphasizes the importance of community-driven initiatives, available government support, and responsible visitor engagement to sustain these growing ventures. Therefore, agro-ecotourism in these villages reflects a hopeful transition where rural life, nature, and culture come together to shape a more resilient and inclusive future for the people of those areas.
This research looks at the changes in and the impact of global climate change on agriculture, livestock and natural resources that may affect livelihoods which are directly dependent on the climate and natural resources. The study was conducted in select districts of Assam, Manipur, Nagaland and Tripura which are some of the most climate vulnerable and have been adversely affected by such changes. The data was collected from a selected sample of respondents from these four states through household surveys, focus group discussions (FGDs) and key informant interviews (KIIs), which was then carefully analyzed. It was observed that climate change has impacted the availability of water making it a scarce resource in many areas. Changes in rainfall patterns have also adversely affected agricultural production in the absence of sustainable irrigation facilities and rising temperatures have led to several diseases and infections increasingly affecting both crop production and livestock. Another aspect of climate change-related negative impact has been a deterioration of soil quality and increasing demands for chemical fertilisers in certain parts of this region, especially in the plains where large-scale commercial farming is done. This research also attempts to highlight some of the methods and practices that are already in use or can be implemented on a broader scale to counter such negative impacts and ensure a more sustainable livelihood for the people in this region.
