WATERSHED MANAGEMENT & ECOLOGICAL RESILIENCE

2. Watershed Management (Ecological Resilience)

Early on in its Climate Change Mitigation and Climate Action, IFFDC recognised the importance of integrating other thematic interventions like Water Resource Development, Soil Water Conservation, Climate Proofing etc. into this programme. In particular, the IFFDC's experience of its watershed management programme for improving gender focused rural livelihoods of communities through natural resource management is noteworthy. It contributes to the Sustainable Development Goal No. 13 "Climate Action" and SDG 15 “Life on Land”.

In line with its participatory predilection, Village Watershed Committees (VWC) and Water Users Committees (WUC) are developed for implementing this programme using a participatory approach. Focusing on providing Water and Food Security, a comprehensive set of activities related to land use planning and development and other livelihood generation activities has been systematically integrated for building up the 'Ecosystem Resilience' of the community.

The purpose of watershed development is to rehabilitate and conserve land and water resources in order to develop resilience towards climate change to ensure food and livelihood security. For this, the IFFDC has joined hands with other agencies and is mobilising resources directly from NABARD and through convergence with various Government agencies for the restoration of depleting water resources. 

The focus is on land treatment with "Ridge to Valley" treatment concept, climate proofing, livelihood generation and building capacities of the rural community by developing sustainable community institutions like Village Watershed Development Committees (VWDC) and ensuring gender equity at all stages of the project cycle. A total area of 19,219 ha area has been treated by various soil & water conservation measures.

PROJECT DETAILS

Supporting Agency	State	District	Treated Area (ha)
NABARD	Chhattisgarh	Kawardha, Bilaspur	2,609
	Madhya Pradesh	Sagar, Chhindwara, Satna	4,459
	Rajasthan	Pratapgarh, Udaipur	1,652
	Telangana	Nizamabad	1,837
	Odisha	Cuttack	131
State Govt.	MP (MGNREGA)	Bhopal, Sheopur, Chhatarpur	3,417
	MP (IWMP)	Chhatarpur, Rewa	5,114
		Total	19,219

 

Progress

l       566 ha area has been treated with 8,421 m3. Farm Bund (FB), 1,343 m3 Strengthening of Field Bund (SFB), 275 m3. Stone Outlet (SO), 916 m3 Water Absorption Trench (WAT), 758 m3 Continous Contour Trench (CCT), 805 m3 Staggered Contour Trench (SCT), 35 Loose Boulder Structure (LBS). 2 Composite Gabion have been constructed for Soil Water Conservation purpose.

l       Under soil-water conservation measures, 24 Farm Ponds were constructed in farmer fields to harvest rain water and utilize it for irrigating crops and 05 Recharge Pits to conserve water have been established.

l       For Water Resource Development 02 Check Dams and one Sunken Pond were constructed.

l       7 training programmes on Financial Literacy, Social issues, Crop Insurance, Climate Change Mitigation, Adaptation, Resilience Development and Climate Smart Cropping System and Water budgeting were organised for Village Watershed Community members in which 245 farmers participated.

l       5 trainings on “Organic Farming' have been organised in which, 175 farmers participated. They have been initiated into the techniques of achieving good incomes from Organic Farming.

l       22 Units of Azola Cultivation have been set up for increasing availability of protein rich fodder for cattle in the area. This will help in improving the milk production and quality of the cattle. Improved Barseem Seed has been provided to 20 farmers for fodder cultivation. It helped in increasing milk production and maintaining milching cattle health in the project area. New crop varieties were introduced by providing high yielding variety seeds of Potato (Pahari), Onion (Mahalaxmi and Sona) and Garlic (Gorang) to 8 farmers in the project area for increasing yields.

l       Bio-decomposers were provided to 63 farmers to decompose the crop residues into manure and 20 Farm Yard Manure (FYM) Pits have been constructed.

l       As an alternate source for generating income and livelihood for SHG members, 80 Goats (4 Goat unit) were provided to 20 SHG members.

l       38 Insect Trap Solar Lights have been installed on farmers' fields for Pest Control of crops.

Outcome

l       Increase of water tables of wells in the covered areas has been observed and farmers are able to harvest their second crop successfully leading to more returns.

l       Additional area has been brought under cultivation by adopting various soil conservation measures.

l          Landless farmers and women have been provided employment opportunities in the area through skill development and various soil-moisture conservation activities.

l       Treated areas have produced good quality fodder for cattle by which the health of cattle has improved.

l       Knowledge of "Climate Smart Agriculture" of the farmers of the project area has increased.

l       It has helped in contributing to the objectives of the Govt. of India i.e. "More Crop from Each Drop" and "Doubling Farmers Income".