Holistic Approach to RHolistic Approach to RWater Harvesting i S i id R iin Semi-arid Regions oIndia

Om Prakash SharmaOm Prakash Sharma

W ll f I diW ll f I di I di T L dI di T L dWells for India Wells for India –– India Team LeadIndia Team LeadUdaipur, Rajasthan, IndiaUdaipur, Rajasthan, India

www.wellsforindia.orgwww.wellsforindia.org

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Wells for IndiaWells for India

egistered Charity working with the est communities in Rajasthan, India

porting rainwater harvesting, p g g,ihood, Health and Education Projects ajasthan, India. water Harvesting is primary vention in community development

k is spread over 11 districts of sthanking with 22 local non governmentking with 22 local non-government nizations (NGOs).

56 million people, 75 % population is rural, High population growth rate61 % of the land area is sandy desertRainfall 100 mm to less than 400 mmRainfall 100 mm to less than 400 mmSummer temperature may be high as 49 to 50 deg.Low Literacy rate of the state is, in d t d i d t F ldesert and semi desrt areas, Female: 44 4%Semi arid region – rainfall 500 to 650 mm.Limited fresh water zones.Recurrent drought Water, food and Fodder shortage. Underground salinity and high level offluoride Women suffers a most, walk 8 – 10 Km daily.Km daily. Distress Migration is common.

ChallengesChallenges

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The AravaThe Aravaali Hillsali Hills

One of the oldest mountain ranges of the worldworld.It covers about 30% of the state's area.The hills have the oldest granitic and gneissic rocks at their base, overlain by the rocks of the Aravalli Super groupthe rocks of the Aravalli Super group, Delhi Super group, the Vindhyan Super group and younger rocks.Semi-arid region – rainfall 500 to 650 mm.Temperatures vary between 40oC toTemperatures vary between 40oC to 49oC during summers, while 2oC to 5oC during winters. Recurrent drought, water, food and fodder shortage.fodder shortage.Locally underground salinity and high level of fluoride Women suffer most, walk 8 – 10 Km daily. Distress migration is commonDistress migration is common.

Holistic approach to rHolistic approach to r

• Rain Water harvesting is an eforms of development.

• Small scale water harvesting wincreasing water availability bproductivity of food grain andproductivity of food grain andgeneration, thus reducing pov

• Village self-help groups play adevelopment tackling issues sdevelopment tackling issues s

• Better sustainable future

ain water harvestingain water harvesting

essential foundation for all other

work not only helps in but also in enhancing d fodder and allowing incomed fodder and allowing income verty.active roles in the village such as health and educationsuch as health and education.

Water harvesting structures

Gauging tGauging t

A simple scientific monitorini t f t h tiimpact of water harvestin

Regular monitoring of wateproduction income etc wproduction, income etc wvillagers. Initial training togiven by NGO partners ang y pnational level agency on w

the Effectthe Effect

ng system to gauge the k d l dng works was developed.

r level data in wells, crops were monitored by localwere monitored by local o the village people were nd AFPRO – a leading gwater harvesting.

Impacts of Rain Water Average Annual Rainfall in Udaipur District

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

Rai

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l in

mm

0

200

1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 20

Year

Water Level in Na

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Level in

m ( Be

low G.L.)

-20.00

-15.00

Water Le

Jun-03

Water Level in N

-8

-6

-4

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03 5 6 7 8

Wel

vel in m ( Below

G.L.)

-14

-12

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Water

Lev

Aug-01 Aug-02

Harvesting StructuresA i i d dAn increase in underground water level in the villages : thus increasing water availability and accessibility

006

ayagaon Village Wells

y y

7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16

Well No.

Jun-04 Jun-05

Nala Village Wells

10 11 12 14 21 22

ls No.

Aug-03 Aug-04 Aug-05

Easy access and availability of water for drinkingy y g

Water is now available throughout whole year.

The distance of fetching drinking water reduced fThe distance of fetching drinking water reduced f

Reduction in time and energy for collection of wa

The women can give more attention to their child

Easy accessibility of drinking water for the cattle.

g and irrigation purposes. g g p p

from an average 1000 m to 200 mfrom an average 1000 m to 200 m.

ater.

dren and family works.

.

Improved food grain andIncreased availability of water for irrigation andand winter crops.

Monsoon Crop area and Production inMonsoon Crop area and Production inMonsoon Crop area and Production in Monsoon Crop area and Production in Nayagaon village Nayagaon village

YearYear No of No of farmersfarmers

Area inArea inHectareHectare

ProductionProductionIn KilogramIn Kilogram

20012001--20022002 4040 3838 266266

20022002--20032003 6060 6363 670670

20032003--20042004 7979 7070 775775

20042004--20052005 101101 9292 11041104

Winter Crop area and Production in Winter Crop area and Production in Nayagaon villageNayagaon village

YearYear No of No of farmersfarmers

Area inArea inHectareHectare

ProductionProductionIn KilogramIn Kilogram

20012001--20022002 77 55 2525

20022002--20032003 3535 1515 137137

20032003--20042004 4646 1919 237237

20042004--20052005 6060 2525 375375

The increased availability of water in each villafarmers in the agricultural activity

d fodder availabilityd subsequent increase in area of monsoon

age has led to increasing interest of the

Composting

Common waste land developed in to pasture lands..

Loose stone fencing and vegetative fencing (Jetropha) along with water conservation works such as loose stone check dams, contour trenches done.

The developed pastureland is being maintained by village based self-help groups.

The increased grass production from nothing to 15000 kg in 2003-2004 and 26000 kg in 2004-2005 helped increasing fodder availability.

Reducing poverty and enopportuniopportuni

• 60% of the families are undertaking vegetable production The vegetables arevegetable production. The vegetables are first used for household consumption and any surplus then sold in the village or in the market. Table 2 shows the income of 18 families of Nala village due to vegetable gardening.

SS

nhancing livelihood itiesities

Annual income in INR Annual income in INR

SlSl Name Name from Vegetable Gardening from Vegetable Gardening

20012001 20022002 20032003 20042004 20052005

TotalTotal 800800 10,40010,400 72,40072,400 98,30098,300 124,900124,900

Per family Per family 400400 742.86742.86 5171.435171.43 6143.756143.75 6938.896938.89

FamiliesFamilies 22 1414 1414 1616 1818

Increased food grain and fodder availabiamong the women and children.

lity led to improved health situation

Improving gender equImproving gender equSelf-help Groups (SHG) formed a platforfor the tribal women of the village who wmen in the patriarchal society.

uity and sustainabilityuity and sustainabilityrm of women’s empowerment - especially were always treated as subordinate to

Towards a sus

With local banks for financial assistant to SHG as loan, With agriculture departments for training, supply of improved seeds and agriculture implements, With veterinary department forWith veterinary department for treatment and vaccination of livestock, With forest department forWith forest department for development of forest land and With education and health departments.

stainable futureVillageVillage Work Done by the communities Work Done by the communities

NayagaonNayagaon Construction of a community hall, local villageConstruction of a community hall, local villageNayagaonNayagaon Construction of a community hall, local village Construction of a community hall, local village development committee executed the work. Road development committee executed the work. Road constructed under drought relief programme constructed under drought relief programme supported by the government. Hand pumps supported by the government. Hand pumps repaired with the help of government department.repaired with the help of government department.

NalaNala VDC liaison with government education departmentVDC liaison with government education departmentNalaNala VDC liaison with government education department VDC liaison with government education department and started a Primary school in the village. VDC also and started a Primary school in the village. VDC also mobilized resources for installation of Solar Lights mobilized resources for installation of Solar Lights for 63 families from Tribal Area Development for 63 families from Tribal Area Development Agency Agency –– TADA. Village Forest Protection and TADA. Village Forest Protection and Management Committee is recognized by Management Committee is recognized by g g yg g ydepartment of Forest and is actively involved in the department of Forest and is actively involved in the promotion of JFM programme. Villagers and VDC promotion of JFM programme. Villagers and VDC effectively mobilized construction of 4 km road up effectively mobilized construction of 4 km road up to their village. Protection wall constructed in the to their village. Protection wall constructed in the forest land of 50 hectare.School play ground is forest land of 50 hectare.School play ground is

t t d t S h lt t d t S h lconstructed at Schoolconstructed at School

Conclus• The holistic approach to water harv

advance progress on 5 of the eight(MDG ) hi h G l 1 2 3 4(MDGs), which are: Goal 1, 2, 3, 4

• Participation of community with a sachieve the desired outcome. The sunder the project has solely depenunder the project has solely depenparticipation.

• Availability of sufficient and properto assess the impacts of project intto assess the impacts of project inttenure. Further, proper monitoring photography, maps, formats etc. nbeginning of the program implemeg g p g pimpacts as well as to measure the authentic manner.

sionsvesting provides an opportunity to t Millennium Development Goals

d 7and 7. sense of ownership is essential to sustainability of resources created ded on the degree of communityded on the degree of community

r baseline data is very much required terventions at the end of projectterventions at the end of project tool like process documentation, eed to be introduced from the very ntation for periodic assessment of poutcomes scientifically and in a very