Tree · Chennekothapalli, Sri Sathya Sai District, Andhra Pradesh, India
The Timbaktu Collective
Regenerating drylands and dignity with women's cooperatives in Anantapur
Since 1990Works across the regionDeccan Plateau (Rayalaseema drylands)
- dryland restoration
- community forest
- organic farming cooperative
- women's cooperatives
- commons
- millets
Since 1990, Timbaktu has turned about 7,000 acres of degraded drylands in Andhra Pradesh into community forest, with plant species rising from 21 to more than 400. It runs Kalpavalli community forest conservation and Dharani, an organic farming cooperative with 2,723 smallholders. It also supports Swasakthi, women-owned financial cooperatives with more than 31,000 members across 324 villages.
Founded by Bablu Ganguly and Mary Vattamattam on 32 acres of degraded land. Its outreach now covers 347 villages and 48,731 families. In 2026 it ran Youth for Ecology with about 200 young people in youth sanghas, built a community post-harvest platform in Sheshapuram, and held an International Youth Day gathering on 27 September 2026.
What they need
Can you help? We'll take it to them.
- Market partners for organic produce
- Support for youth ecology work
What they offer
Ask us to connect you.
- Organic produce via Dharani cooperative
- Visits by appointment
- Community commons restoration experience