Faces of Bhungroo UNFCCC, India 2014

Drought is a serious issue in the western Indian state of Gujarat, particularly for underprivileged female farmers whose livelihood depends on the monsoon. Limited rainfall in the state leads to water logging in peak cropping season. For the rest of the year, farmers experience severe water scarcity. But thanks to a life-changing technology, poor farmers are now converting crises into opportunities.

Selected as a 2014 United Nations 'Lighthouse Activity,' a shining example of climate change action, Bhungroo is a water management system that injects and stores excess rainfall underground and lifts it out for use in dry spells. Adoption of this technology has decreased salt deposits on soil and increased fresh water supply, saving farmers from drought.

Naireeta Services, a social enterprise, trains and empowers women to run and monitor Bhungroo. Groups of five ultra-poor women farmers jointly own the Bhungroo technology, which provides them with an income from their crops. By curtailing desertification, the initiative helps women build resilience to climate change.