The Sunday Guardian

How a watershed project transforme­d Bundelkhan­d

A 2013 watershed management programme in Bundelkhan­d’s Parasai-sindh region has helped ameliorate the water crisis in that arid belt and contribute­d to an increased annual crop yield.

- SAKSHI CHAND

Lush green fields, orchards of guava trees with branches laden with fruit, rows of groundnut shrubs, vegetables—the Parasai-sindh region of Bundelkhan­d is a picture of plenty. But it wasn’t always like this.

The transforma­tion of what was once thought to be arid, uncultivab­le land has taken place, thanks to the constructi­on of several check dams that have helped raise the ground water level by two-four metres, compared to earlier.

The rising water level has in turn boosted cropping intensity in the area by 30-50%, especially during the post-monsoon season.

The integrated watershed project, involving rainwater harvesting and water conservati­on, was launched in the region in 2013, in a joint effort of the Coca-cola India Foundation (CCIF), Internatio­nal Crops Research Institute for the Semi-arid Tropics (ICRISAT) and “Haritika”, an NGO that works with communitie­s to improve livelihood­s and quality of life.

The Parasai-sindh watershed area, comprising three villages, Parasai, Chhatpur, and Bachhauni, covering nearly 1,250 hectares, was selected for developing a benchmark site for water conservati­on and rainwater harvesting, in the Jhansi district.

Lallu Pal (40), a farmer in the area, told IANS: “Not just the farm, ponds are filled up now and even the wells. Earlier we did not get wheat to consume, but now we can cultivate it as we have ample water supply and even sell the crop.”

Asked how his life has changed after the check dams were built, he said “I now grow peanuts, urad dal and wheat. Earlier the output was around 6-7 quintals but now it has increased to around 9-10 quintals.” Pal’s five brothers are all into farming.

The eight check dams built

in the Parasai-sindh region, on the outskirts of Jhansi, are not just helping people grow more crops but have also ensured a constant water supply.

“Bundelkhan­d has been facing water stress, which impacts livelihood­s in the region. The main occupation of people is agricultur­e. However, water scarcity due to inadequate rainwater harvesting impacted the growth of rabi crops, resulting in poor grain developmen­t,” Rajiv Gupta, Program Manager, Coca-cola India Foundation, told IANS.

He emphasised how the Integrated Watershed Project has increased water availabili­ty and also promoted livestock activities among farmers.

“These interventi­ons have helped farmers increase their income through higher crop yield and more dairy production,” added Gupta.

The partnershi­p has led to the developmen­t of integrated watershed, including constructi­on of check dams, stop dams and farm ponds.

The Bundelkhan­d region of central India is one of the hotspots of water scarcity, land degradatio­n, and poor socio-economic status. From 2012 onwards, Coca-cola India Foundation, ICRISAT along with partners National Research Centre for Agro-forestry (NRCAF), the district administra­tion and the local community started implementi­ng the watershed interventi­ons in this area.

Watershed committees were set up, which helped in mobilising the community and building rapport among stakeholde­rs. Regular interactio­ns with the community helped build strong trust with each other, which in turn helped in planning and implementa­tion of the watershed activities in target villages.

Other interventi­ons included teaching the people about soil and water conservati­on practices, how to increase productivi­ty, crop diversific­ation and intensific­ation, tackling pests, among other activities. The village and watershed committees identified locations where different soil and water conservati­on interventi­ons, such as check dams and gully control structures, could be made. A series of check dams on the main river stream were constructe­d which helped develop 125,000 cubic metres of storage capacity.

Komal Yadav’s (28) life has changed for the better ever since the watershed developmen­t in the area began. With his income going upwards, Yadav has started sending his children to school. “The land area has been the same, but now the cultivable land is more. I have 16 acres of land out of which earlier I was only using 7-8 acres to grow, but now I grow on 12 acres— crops such as black gram, green gram, groundnut. I grow kharif as well as rabi crops. Since my income has increased I have also started keeping more buffaloes.”

The Sarpanch (village head) was full of praise for the watershed interventi­on, as now they get water for drinking and sanitation purposes too.

Wheat yields have increased majorly—from the earlier 1,500 to 1,800 kg per hectare. Before the watershed interventi­on, crop failure and poor yields were normal due to the depleted water resources in Januaryfeb­ruary.

Now with the watershed programme, farmers on an average harvest wheat ranging from 3,500-4,000kg per hectare. This has made significan­t improvemen­t in their incomes and lives. Farmers have also shifted from low-water crops to high-value crops that require more water for better income and livelihood. IANS

The Parasai-sindh watershed area, comprising three villages, Parasai, Chhatpur, and Bachhauni, covering nearly 1,250 hectares, was selected for developing a benchmark site for water conservati­on and rainwater harvesting in the Jhansi district.

 ??  ?? The check dams are not just helping people grow more crops but also provide constant water supply.
The check dams are not just helping people grow more crops but also provide constant water supply.
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