Livelihood Promotion
At AKSSADA, livelihood promotion means creating opportunities for the Siddi community to build sustainable and dignified lives. Our programs focus on traditional skills, natural resources, and modern training to ensure long-term growth and empowerment.
Agriculture
We support Siddi farmers with organic farming practices, modern techniques, and better market access to improve food security and income.
Beekeeping
For centuries, the Siddi community has relied on forest honey gathering as both a source of food and income. Honey collected from the wild forests of the Western Ghats is valued for its purity, medicinal qualities, and unique taste. Traditional honey gatherers climb tall trees, using indigenous knowledge to safely collect honey while respecting the bees and the forest ecosystem.
Alongside this tradition, modern beekeeping is now being promoted by AKSSADA as a sustainable livelihood option. By maintaining bee boxes near farms and villages, families can harvest honey, wax, and pollen regularly without disturbing the wild colonies.
Together, forest honey gathering and beekeeping:
Provide nutritious honey and natural products.
Generate income with very low investment.
Support biodiversity by improving pollination of local crops.
Preserve traditional knowledge while introducing modern techniques.
This blend of traditional gathering and modern beekeeping ensures that Siddi families can benefit from both heritage and innovation, while contributing to sustainable forest conservation.
Fisheries
Fishing has always been a part of life for the Siddi community, especially in regions with rivers, lakes, and reservoirs. By combining traditional knowledge with modern aquaculture techniques, families can secure both food and income throughout the year.
Through AKSSADA’s training, Siddi families learn:
How to manage ponds and tanks for healthy fish growth.
Use of nutritious, affordable feed to increase yield.
Sustainable practices that protect water sources and fish biodiversity.
How to access markets to sell fresh fish at fair prices.
This approach not only improves nutrition—as fish is a rich source of protein—but also creates steady income opportunities. Sustainable fisheries help reduce overfishing in natural water bodies while encouraging community-led resource management.
With proper support, aquaculture can become one of the most reliable and eco-friendly livelihood options for the Siddi community.
Animal Husbandry
Animal husbandry is one of the most reliable livelihood options for the Siddi community. Many families already keep backyard poultry, goats, or cattle to meet daily needs. With proper guidance, these practices can be turned into sustainable income sources.
At AKSSADA, we support Siddi families by:
Training in backyard poultry management to improve egg and meat production.
Introducing better breeds of goats and poultry for higher yield.
Teaching fodder cultivation and feeding practices to reduce costs.
Providing knowledge on animal health, vaccination, and disease prevention.
Connecting families to local markets for selling milk, eggs, and meat.
By upgrading traditional practices with modern techniques, families not only improve food security at home but also gain steady income to support education and healthcare.
Animal husbandry thus becomes a bridge between tradition and progress, empowering the Siddi community with resilience and dignity.
Eco-Tourism
The Western Ghats, home to the Siddi community, are blessed with breathtaking biodiversity and a rich cultural heritage. Today, many visitors are eager to experience authentic village life—staying with families, learning about farming, cooking traditional food, and teaching their children the value of living close to nature. Through eco-tourism, the Siddis can share their music, dance, crafts, and ancestral knowledge, offering guests a unique cultural experience while creating a sustainable source of income. This not only provides families with livelihood opportunities but also helps preserve traditional skills and strengthens community pride, all while promoting conservation of the forests and environment.
Our Impact
By promoting livelihoods in agriculture, beekeeping, fisheries, animal husbandry, and eco-tourism, AKSSADA empowers the Siddi community to not only earn a stable income but also ensure food security, self-reliance, and dignity. These initiatives strengthen traditional practices with modern skills, creating opportunities for youth and families alike. At the same time, they help preserve the rich cultural heritage and protect the natural environment of the Western Ghats. Together, these efforts enable the Siddi community to grow, sustain, and thrive—building a future rooted in both tradition and progress.