SEDS Sustainable Agriculture – India

Sustainable Agriculture and Natural Resource Management

The Social Education and Development Society (SEDS) was founded in 1980 by Rajen Joshua and Manil Jayasena as a grassroots development organisation committed to improving life for the poorest communities in the drought-prone region of Anantapur District, Andhra Pradesh.

Partners in Aid has supported SEDS since 1992, beginning with a large-scale reafforestation program that transformed the once-barren hills into thriving green landscapes. Over more than three decades, this partnership has grown to include water conservation, education, health, women’s empowerment, and sustainable agriculture initiatives.

The current Natural Resource Management and Livelihoods Project (2025–2028) builds on this legacy. It focuses on sustainable farming, water conservation, and community-led environmental management. Each year, SEDS undertakes the desilting of village tanks (dams) to restore their capacity, improve water security, and enhance groundwater recharge. The nutrient-rich silt is distributed to farmers’ fields, improving soil fertility and crop yields for up to three years.

Alongside this, SEDS supports the creation of farmer groups, provides training in organic and low-carbon agriculture, and promotes vermicomposting and vermi-water biofertilizers to replace chemical inputs. Over 500 farming families are directly involved, building stronger, more resilient rural livelihoods.

Through this long-term partnership, Partners in Aid and SEDS continue to help farming communities regenerate their land, increase productivity, and move toward a more sustainable future.