Wayanad lies in a hilly region of steep valleys where naturally fast water run-off is compounded by deforestation. In the past twenty years there has been a relatively dramatic change in the climate, reflected in a change in the crops cultivated. People are now suffering acute water shortages and annual droughts. In many areas humans are forced to compete with dangerous wild animals, such as elephants and buffalo, for water. The rain that falls comes in a torrential downpour swiftly runs away down the steep hillsides and is not retained in the soil, thereby not replenishing the water level. The majority of the public wells have dried up and those that still have water will soon be exhausted due to the massive increase in demand. In this situation it is the women who suffer most due to the long distances that must be traveled in order to collect water. Many women must travel three or four kilometers to reach a well. All members of the community, but especially children and the old, are at greater risk of illness due to the poor quality and scarcity of water.

The crop yield has been hard hit as the lack of water has damaged many crops. This is compounded by the fast run off, and subsequent soil erosion, rendering fertilizers less effective. As such the need for an effective, sustainable, community based intervention is critical. Wayanad does not share the relatively affluent position of the rest of Kerala due to a number of factors Predominantly rural with vast majority of population either landless or holding land of one acre or less 35% of the Kerala’s Scheduled Tribes and 10% of its Scheduled Castes live here Communities live in isolation, with limited access to education and health services The collapse of world prices, pepper & coffee in particular, acute water shortage and severe soil erosion have created widespread economic hardship, leading to reduction in agricultural outwork on which the poorest families depend for survival.

• Soil protection programme by terracing the land by contour system of bunding
• Promoting organic farming / organic fertilizers.
• Agricultural product marketing support.
• Wasteland development
• Bio-diversity and afforestation programmes.
• Water harvesting measures and practices.
• Promotion of vermi compost
• PRA exercise by the community
• Resource & Social Mapping Exercises
• Need Identification and prioritization
• Promotion of community based organizations like SHGs, Farmer's club ets.
• Undertaking community engineering works like - Terracing, Earthen bunds, Stone bunds, Bridges, Check Dams, Gully Control,
• Vertiver Cultivation, Culvert Control etc.
• Dairy Development