During this one-day exploratory dialogue with research organizations, advocacy organizations, field practitioners and start-ups, RAP and partner Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay, shared experiences and analysis on the challenges faced by rural farmers and residents. RAP’s Mahesh Patankar shared early analysis of emerging models of cooperatives such as water users associations (WUAs) to manage water budgeting and farmer producer organisations (FPOs) to link farmers directly to markets. Drawing on successful cooperative models in the United States, Dr. Patankar presented alternative business models for water, energy and produce aggregation that could strengthen rural livelihoods.

Visit the workshop website to download all presentations.