Akshayakalpa's Shashi Kumar caught up with Bablu Ganguly and Mary Vattamattam - visionary founders of the Timbaktu Collective, a transformative community organization located in the drought-prone region of Anantapur (Andhra Pradesh) - for the first episode of Good Food Movement's Slow Cooked. Founded in 1990, the collective focuses on sustainable rural development, emphasizing organic farming, ecological restoration, and empowering marginalized communities, especially women and children.

Initially, Timbaktu began with afforestation projects, reclaiming acres of barren land through agroforestry and organic farming practices. Under their leadership, the collective has expanded its initiatives to include microfinance, women's cooperatives, and promoting alternative education. One of its flagship programs is the Kalpavalli Tree Growers Cooperative, which fosters eco-friendly livelihoods and helps regenerate forests, providing food and income for local communities.

The collective also runs Dharani FaM Coop, a farmer-owned organic cooperative that supports over 1,800 farmers in transitioning to chemical-free agriculture, while ensuring fair pricing and sustainable income. Their efforts have been lauded for addressing both environmental and social justice challenges, offering a successful model of community-driven development that balances ecology with economy.

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