During the year 2000, the Collective began an experiment of planting tamarind orchards in the common lands that were being protected. With the help of SOMNEED, a Japanese NGO, two wells were dug in the hills. Unfortunately water was insufficient. Then a bore well was drilled in one of the wells and again water was insufficient.

During 2001/2002, the district administration saw this effort and came up with a scheme to plant tamarind orchards in revenue wastelands all over the district in order to improve the green cover and fetch income for low income groups.

The Collective took this opportunity and promoted this scheme. In 4 of the 8 villages 7,800 tamarind trees were planted in 195 acres of the 8000 acres under protection. In another 6 villages the women's thrift groups who had already been mobilized to protect their common lands by the Collective, took the responsibility of planting tamarind orchards on these Common lands. Totally, 56 acres have been covered and 2,240 trees have been planted.

Tamarind orchard in SBR Palli

People's participation in this programme has been very laudable and sense of ownership almost total. They have contributed in cash and in kind. The activities under this programme included watch and ward, pitting and planting, fencing, watering, manure application etc..

This programme was supported first by SOMNEED - Japan, then by EZE - Germany and finally by the Government of Andhra Pradesh.