The fragile Upper Bhima basin in Maharashtra, rich in biodiversity and tribal heritage, is now facing a sustainability crisis as climate change and ineffective policy threaten both the region’s water and food security. A recent study led by researchers from Pune-based SOPPECOM and the Austria-based International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) highlights the region’s strained balance between water resources, food production, and ecological preservation. In an event held at IISER Pune on November 12, the researchers called attention to how climate-induced challenges and lack of government support are pushing local communities, especially tribal hirda farmers, to the brink of economic collapse.
Hirda, a non-timber forest product collected by local tribes and widely valued by the pharmaceutical industry, plays a crucial economic role for these communities. Despite its importance, hirda is unrecognised as an agricultural crop, leaving farmers without adequate insurance or compensation support when extreme weather events like the 2020 Cyclone Nisarga devastate their crops. The storm wiped out entire hirda yields, plunging many farmers into debt. The financial strain has a ripple effect on households and traditions, with families having to abandon life events or take on loans to survive. However, the lack of official recognition for hirda means the income these communities rely on remains dangerously unstable, increasing their vulnerability in the face of intensifying climate pressures.
The researchers emphasise that equitable water distribution is also an urgent need for sustainability. Current water management practices in the Upper Bhima basin are inequitable, and many downstream farmers face water scarcity that severely hampers agricultural output and livelihoods. This is particularly problematic for the tribal communities living in the basin’s hilly areas, where access to irrigation is limited and agricultural income is reliant on uncertain hirda yields. As extreme weather becomes more frequent, these challenges will only intensify without structural reforms in water distribution and crop support.
From a sustainability perspective, researchers warn that policies ignoring the needs of small and tribal farmers threaten the long-term viability of the region. The focus must shift towards ensuring sustainable resources and income for local communities who have depended on the land for generations. They also stress the importance of more research on climate resilience for native crops like hirda, advocating for interventions to secure these resources against environmental unpredictability. As demand for hirda persists in pharmaceutical and other sectors, protecting these natural assets is essential for ecological balance and economic stability in the region.
In highlighting these issues, the Pune-based experts seek to drive policy changes that address the interconnected nature of water, food, and biodiversity in the Upper Bhima basin. As climate change escalates, they call for an urgent re-evaluation of resource distribution and crop policies to prevent irreversible damage to Maharashtra’s ecological and cultural heritage.
