Water Harvesting. India

Transcription

1 Holistic Approach to Rain Water Harvesting in Semi-arid id Regions of India Om Prakash Sharma Wells for India India Team Lead der, Udaipur, Rajasthan, India

2 Wells for India UK registered Charity working with the poorest communities in Rajasthan, India Supp porting rainwater harvesting, Livelihood, Health and Education Projects in Rajasthan, India. Rainwater Harvesting is primary intervention in community development work is spread over 11 districts of Rajasthan work king with 22 local non-government organizations (NGOs).

3 Challenges 56 million people, 75 % population is rural, High population growth rate 61 % of the land area is sandy desert. Rainfall 100 mm to less than 400 mm. Summer temperature may be high as 49 to 50 deg. Low Literacy rate of the state is, in desert 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 of fluoride Women suffers a most, walk 8 10 Km daily. Distress Migration is common.

4 The Arava ali Hills One of the oldest mountain ranges of the world. 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 group, Delhi Super group, the Vindhyan Super group and younger rocks. Semi-arid region rainfall 500 to 650 mm. Temperatures vary between 40oC to 49oC during summers, while 2oC to 5oC during winters. Recurrent drought, water, food and fodder shortage. Locally underground salinity and high level of fluoride Women suffer most, walk 8 10 Km daily. Distress migration is common.

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8 Holistic approach to r ain water harvesting Rain Water harvesting is an essential foundation for all other forms of development. Small scale water harvesting work not only helps in increasing water availability but also in enhancing productivity of food grain and fodder and allowing income generation, thus reducing poverty. Village self-help groups play active roles in the village development tackling issues such as health and education. Better sustainable future

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10 ater harvesting structures

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14 Gauging the Effect A simple scientific monitoring system to gauge the impact of water harvestin ng works was developed. d Regular monitoring of water level data in wells, crops production, income etc were monitored by local villagers. Initial training to the village people were given by NGO partners and AFPRO a leading national level agency on water harvesting.

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16 Impacts of Rain Water Harvesting Structures Rainfall in mm Average Annual Rainfall in Udaipur District An increase in underground d water level in the villages : thus increasing water availability and accessibility Year Water Level in Nayagaon Village Wells Water Level inm( BelowG.L.) Well No Jun-03 Jun-04 Jun-05 Water Level in Nala Village Wells Wells No Water Lev vel inm( BelowG.L.) Aug-01 Aug-02 Aug-03 Aug-04 Aug-05

17 Easy access and availability of water for drinking and irrigation purposes. p Water is now available throughout whole year. The distance of fetching drinking water reduced from an average 1000 m to 200 m. Reduction in time and energy for collection of water. The women can give more attention to their children and family works. Easy accessibility of drinking water for the cattle.

18 Improved food grain and fodder availability ncreased availability of water for irrigation and subsequent increase in area of monsoon nd winter crops. Year Monsoon Crop area and Production in Nayagaon village No of farmers Area in Hectare Production In Kilogram Year Winter Crop area and Production in Nayagaon village No of farmers Area in Hectare Production In Kilogram he increased availability of water in each village has led to increasing interest of the armers in the agricultural activity

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20 Composting

21 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 kg in and kg in helped increasing fodder availability.

22 Reducing poverty and enhancing livelihood opportuni ities 60% of the families are undertaking vegetable 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. Sl Name Annual income in INR from Vegetable Gardening Total ,400 72,400 98, ,900 Per family Families

23 Increased food grain and fodder availability led to improved health situation among the women and children.

24 Improving gender equ uity and sustainability Self-help Groups (SHG) formed a platform of women s empowerment - especially for the tribal women of the village who were always treated as subordinate to men in the patriarchal society.

25 Towards a sustainable future 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 for treatment and vaccination of livestock, With forest department for development of forest land and With education and health departments. Village Nayagaon Nala Work Done by the communities Construction of a community hall, local village development committee executed the work. Road constructed under drought relief programme supported by the government. Hand pumps repaired with the help of government department. VDC liaison with government education department and started a Primary school in the village. VDC also mobilized resources for installation of Solar Lights for 63 families from Tribal Area Development Agency TADA. Village Forest Protection and Management Committee is recognized by department of Forest and is actively involved in the promotion of JFM programme. Villagers and VDC effectively mobilized construction of 4 km road up to their village. Protection wall constructed in the forest land of 50 hectare.school play ground is constructed t at School

26 Conclusions The holistic approach to water harvesting provides an opportunity to advance progress on 5 of the eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which h are: Goal 1, 2, 3, 4 and 7. Participation of community with a sense of ownership is essential to achieve the desired outcome. The sustainability of resources created under the project has solely depen ded on the degree of community participation. Availability of sufficient and properr baseline data is very much required to assess the impacts of project int terventions at the end of project tenure. Further, proper monitoring tool like process documentation, photography, maps, formats etc. need to be introduced from the very beginning g of the program impleme ntation for periodic assessment of impacts as well as to measure the outcomes scientifically and in a very authentic manner.