{
  "id": 6730238,
  "title": "When roads in an India village closed during COVID-19, Permagardens started to grow",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/11/when-roads-in-an-india-village-closed-during-covid-19-permagardens",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-09-11T08:06:02.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Ghana Business News",
    "slug": "ghana-business-news",
    "url": "https://www.ghanabusinessnews.com/2026/09/11/when-roads-in-an-india-village-closed-during-covid-19-permagardens-started-to-grow/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In central India, the Baiga people live in regions with scarce roads, little electricity, and shrinking forests. When India imposed COVID-19 lockdowns in 2020, the lack of road access made it harder for Baiga communities to get food and basic supplies. A community kitchen operated by a woman served meals for 16 months, despite disruptions in external supplies. However, the lockdown also highlighted a bigger issue - many Baiga communities remain isolated from markets, have limited access to reliable water, and lack opportunities to grow vegetables near their homes. Furthermore, climate change has severely impacted them, with temperatures soaring as high as 119 degrees Fahrenheit.\n\nIn response, some Baiga communities began setting up permagardens to grow their own food closer to home. Permagardens use permaculture design with bio-intensive gardening, focusing on water management, soil improvement, and organic materials to transform small household plots into productive gardens. The first garden was established by Phool Bai Singh, who saw the benefits of home-grown nutritious vegetables for her children. She encouraged other tribal families to join, and together they have supported 759 families in creating their own Permagardens.\n\nThese Permagardens have brought numerous benefits to the Baiga community. With regular access to fresh vegetables, women are now taking leading roles in managing gardens and teaching others. Local trainers and community seed banks have emerged, ensuring knowledge and planting material remain within the community. A post-gardening survey of 40 families in Umaria District revealed that 75% of families experienced highly available fresh nutritious vegetables, with 90% feeling not worried about food shortage during the dry season. Additionally, 38 families reported the ability to grow and harvest vegetables even during the dry season. These gardens have also resulted in increased women's participation in household decision-making and reduced spending on purchased vegetables. Although challenges still remain, like water availability, fencing, animal protection, lack of time, and the need for continued technical guidance, the Permagardens offer hope for food security and community resilience amidst the difficult living conditions faced by the Baiga people.",
  "summary": "High in the hills of central India, the Baiga people live in areas with limited roads, limited electricity, and decreasing forest cover. The post When roads in an India village closed during COVID-19, Permagardens started to grow appeared first on Ghana Business News .",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}