India, Feb. 11 -- Asha Omary knew something was wrong the last time she stood in her rice field. The plants were stunted, their leaves yellowing under the scorching sun. She had followed every technique she was taught - spacing seedlings, applying compost, managing water - but something was missing.

"For years, we had help," she said, gripping dry soil. "Experts showed us how to grow more rice without flooding fields, how to stop soil erosion. Now, they're gone. We are alone."

Omary, 38, a mother of four, has farmed all her life. Her husband, Juma, helps when he can, but with dwindling yields, he takes odd jobs in Morogoro town, 25 miles away, to keep food on the table.

For five years, USAID-funded experts trained Kiroka farmers on the...