Reaping Monetary Benefits from Groundwater Monitoring Small Inputs Big Changes for Tribal Farmers

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1 News Letter - 11 Editorial Overview: Status of Works Grounded Component-wise Progress November 2013 Reaping Monetary Benefits from Groundwater Monitoring Small Inputs Big Changes for Tribal Farmers Women Solve Drinking Water Problem and Earn Four-fold Increase in Fish Production and Income Income Collective Marketing Increases Profits Women Farmers Become Smart Money Managers Agribusiness Opportunities for Organised Farmes

2 Editorial Most of the physical works under APCBTMP A recent workshop for buyers and sellers is completed or nearing completion. Restored highlighted a number of win-win scenarios for the tanks have been handed over to WUAs for O&M farmers, the buyers and the consumers. Farmers and water management. With good monsoons, would get better price for their produce by entering the results of the tank restoration activities would into marketing agreements with retailers. They be visible in more ayacut irrigated, better supply would get immediate direct payment via electronic banking, without paying commission agents. of water to middle and tailend farmers, and better Retailers would be able to supply quality produce groundwater recharge in the tank influence zone. to customers and make reasonable profits. The project is now in its final year of Consumers would get quality produce within a implementation. In addition to training WUAs to day from the farm to their dinner tables. properly operate and maintain the tank system, This is a win-win-win situation for all. And the the focus of the project would be on agriculture, project would be fulfilling its ultimate objective of fisheries, and agribusiness related activities. greater benefits to stakeholders. 2

3 Overview Status of Works Grounded (Oct 2013) Sl District Project tanks Ayacut (ha) AA tanks Works grounded WUA Training on water management: Data collection thru CTF Tender 1 Adilabad Anantapur Chittoor East Godavari Kadapa Karimnagar Khammam Krishna Kurnool Mahabubnagar Medak Nalgonda Nellore Nizamabad Prakasam Rangareddy Srikakulam Visakhapatnam Vizianagaram Warangal West Godavari Total APCBTMP: Componentwise progress (Oct 2013) Components Unit No. Strengthening Community Based Institutions Tank Improvement and Management Plans (TIMP) prepared N 2157 Nodal Support Organizations involved N 57 Para workers trained N 6471 Corpus fund (WUA O&M Account) including, 90% of Water Tax collected Rs/Lakh 1700 (plough back) WUA contribution in kind to works Rs/Lakh 521 Tribal Development Plans approved WUA 55 Gender Action Plans approved WUA 215 Tanks handed over to WUAs for O&M Tanks 1048 Improvement of Minor Irrigation Tanks Administrative approvals accorded Tanks 2157 Administrative approvals accorded for Additional Works Tanks 569 Additional works cost Rs/Lakh Technical sanctions Tanks 2157 Technical Sanctions (Tender Cost) Rs./Lakh WUA works grounded Tanks 2157 WUA Works (Cost) Rs./Lakh 9411 Tender works grounded Tanks % works completed Tanks % - 100%works completed Tanks % works completed Tanks % works completed Tanks % works completed Tanks 127 Participatory Groundwater Management Tanks selected N 314 Functional PGM groups N 2268 PGM group members (Men) N PGM group members (Women) N Module 1 (Need and methodology of Participatory GW Estimation) N 314 Module 2 (PHM equipment handling, N 306 data collection & dissemination) Module 3 (Crop Water Budgeting) N 289 PHM volunteers collecting data N 1530 CWB Workshops organized Tank 238 CWB Field days organised Tank 182 Agricultural Livelihood Support Services Demonstrations completed N 5833 Vermi compost units grounded N 2796 Kisan Melas organized N 3472 Fisheries inputs (Tanks) N 1021 Commodity Interest Groups N

4 Women Solve Drinking Water Problem and Earn Income Women understand the need for safe drinking water for a healthy family. The 41 women ayacutdhars of Dasabandhanam Cheruvu, Aravallipadu, Donakonda mandal, Praksam district know it too well. As their drinking water sources were fluoride affected, they had to procure mineral water from Donakonda, 15 kms away. And it cost a lot too. Smt Rupineni Aruna, Chairperson of Vijaya Gender CIG was very eloquent: APCBTM Project encouraged us women to form a common interest group. Ten of us joined to form a gender CIG. We started Rs.50 per month/per member. We have saved Rs. 7,500/- up to October SARDS (NSO) trained us to prepare our CIG business plan. After many group discussions, we agreed that something had to be done about the lack of safe drinking water for the entire village. So we decided to set up a Reverse Osmosis (RO) plant of 1000 litre/day capacity. Our business plan involved raising our own funds, plus donation and project subsidy as follows: Source of funds Rs CIG contribution 90,000 WUA Chairman 60,000 APCBTMP Gender CIG grant 100,000 Total Cost of RO Plant 250,000 Power Weeder for hire Women farmers under the Kadari Cheruvu, Kadarigudem village Wardhannapet mandal of Warangal district have become smart entrepreneurs thanks to the gender development programme of APCBTMP. Smt. Ch. Hymavathi, Chairperson of the Kadarigudem Vegetable Sangam explains: We had no platform to discuss our issues and concerns till Now, 170 families are getting safe drinking water daily. Up to 100 canisters (10 litre each) are sold for Rs. 10/- each; Rs. 2 per litre. CIG makes a profit of Rs. 6,000/- each member getting Rs. 600/- per month. Smt. Aruna concluded: Now 90% of the villagers buy water from the RO plant. Most common water borne diseases are eradicated and people are healthy. RO Plant in Operation We are very happy that APCBTMP provided us training and financial support to solve an age old problem. And 10 families are getting an additional monthly income as well. We will take lead in carrying forward the various project activities. Women Farmers Become Smart Money Managers This situation changed when Kadari cheruvu was selected for renovation. Of the total 132 ayactudars, 42 are women farmers. We formed a women farmers group called Kadarigudem Vegetable Sangam with 18 members. Our savings of Rs.100/- per member per month has become Rs. 87,000/- now. To earn better returns, we rotate the funds providing loan to our group 24% interest rate. Thus we have earned Rs. 21,830/- from December 2010 to October In Nov 2012, Project approved our business plan to purchase Power Weeders costing Rs lakh. We charge 300 Rupees per day; diesel and repair charges are borne by the farmer. So far we have collected Rs. 6,310/- as hire charges. Smt. Ch. Hymavathi concluded: Today we are really happy that we need not depend on anybody for meeting our financial needs for agricultural and allied activities. We thank APCBTMP for showing us the way to self-reliance and dignity. The 12 th World Bank Project Implementation Support Mission will be visiting APCBTMP during the 2 nd week of January 2014

5 Reaping Monetary Benefits from Groundwater Monitoring Sri Nizamuddin Yaseen, is the WUA Chairman of Peddacheruvu, Kistapur village, Doma mandal of Ranga Reddy district. Nizamuddin shared his experience of observing Participatory Hydrological Monitoring (PHM) with World Bank Mission Member Smt. Kalyani Kandula. Pedda Cheruvu was selected for PGM under APCBTMP in I joined the PGM group around Faruk s well, selected for groundwater monitoring. My 3-acre farm is next to Faruk s. As WUA chairman and PGM group member, I have undergone all the PGM training: Need of Participatory Groundwater Resource Assessment and Management, Measurement of the PHM Data, Crop Water Budgeting. I also participated in the Field Day workshops. I understood how groundwater level measurements, water budgeting and crop planning are useful exercises. In November 2012, I had sown groundnut in my 3 acres. I used to track the groundwater levels in Faruk s PHM well every fortnight. I observed that there was a 1.90 meters decline in groundwater levels from November 2012 to February When I compared the previous year s data for the same months, I realised that the situation was precarious: the groundwater level had gone much deeper in Static water level Month (Metres below ground level) November December January February Sri. Nizamuddin in his field I knew that I might not have sufficient water for irrigating my full 3 acres with enough wettings for groundnut kernels to be fully formed. So I decided to continue irrigating only 2.5 acres. I could provide six full wettings with good results. I got 15 bags per acre, each weighing 32 kgs (total of 37.5 bags x 32 kg = 12 quintal x Rs. 4,500 per quintal). I got an income of Rs 54,000/-. Had I continued irrigating my 3- acre crop, the yield would have been only 27 bags, each weighing only 20 kgs as kernels would be small and pods not full. Moreover I would have to sell it at the lower rate of Rs. 3,000/- per quintal. I would have got a total income of Rs. 16,200/- only. I made Rs. 37,800/- more by becoming a smart farmer by monitoring the fluctuation in groundwater levels. Sri. Nizamuddin concluded: I urge all groundwater users to track groundwater levels on a regular basis for sustainable groundwater based livelihood. Small inputs Big Changes for Tribal Farmers Desiel Engines for hire Pangidi Reservoir, Pondhugula village, Mylavaram mandal of Krishna District, with 840 acres ayacut was restored under APCBTMP at Rs. 70 lakhs. Before the project, the reservoir was filled with jungle growth. The reservoir was not receiving sufficient inflows. Out of the 532 ayacutdars, 64 are tribal families, whose ayacut was located at the tail end, receiving no water. They had become totally dependent on agriculture labour. The project, with inputs of Ramky Foundation (NSO) assisted the tribal ayacutdars to form Commodity Interest Groups (CIG). The 64 tribals formed 4 CIGs with 16 members each in May Immediately, Gandhi Rythu CIG opened a bank account and started Rs. 50/- per month per member. By October 2013, the CIG had saved Rs. 72,500/-. After being trained in preparing a business plan, Gandhi Rythu CIG, proposed to invest in two diesel engines to pump water to their tailend ayacut so that they could make their land productive. The proposal was approved by the project and a grant of Rs.1,00,000/- was provided for purchasing two diesel engines. The diesel engines are used by the ayacutdars on hire Rs. 100/- per hour. Thus during Rabi season, 53 farmers cultivated 14 acres and paid Rs.4,530/- as hire charges deposited in the CIG bank account. Sri. Bukya Naik, Chairman, Gandhi Rythu CIG said: We 64 tribal ayacutdars have 29.3 acres. Of these, all 14 farmers having 15.3 acres in the tail-end of the ayacut received water during the last Rabi season. From being utterly dependent as agriculture labour for subsistence, we have now become independent cultivators, thanks to the Project.

6 Four-fold Increase in Fish Production and Income After following all the practices we learnt, we harvested the fish in May We got almost 100 quintals of fish (average of 493 Kgs per Ha/EWSA), whereas earlier we used to harvest only about 26 quintals (average of 128 Kgs per Ha/EWSA). Year Fee Distrib ution (Kg) Fish Production Sold (Kg) Total Produ ction (Kg) Sale Price (Rs /Kg) Income (Rs) Increased Production & Income (%) ,050 - Fingerlings being released Mutrajpally Fisheries Cooperative Society, Pedda Cheruvu, Mutrajpally, Kowdipally mandal of Medak district covers four project tank villages with 324 registered members. Of these 89 are from Mutrajpally village, 70 having land in tank ayacut and 19 are nonayacutdars. Sri. Sunnam Ravindar, Chairman of FCS, Mutrajpally sums up their experience of implementing fisheries innovations under APCBTMP: We used to release 30 mm size (1 ) fingerlings in Pedda Cheruvu. After tank restoration works started under APCBTMP, we learnt about better fisheries practices. Sri. K. Satyanarayana, WUA President, also an FCS member, suggested that we change our fisheries practices. We got training in new technology in fish cultivation with best practices, controlling of diseases and feeding & book keeping organized by the Fisheries Development Officers (FDO). We visited Kaikaluru and Aakiveedu to study production and marketing. In September 2012 we released 40,000 fingerlings of 100 mm (4 ) size as the tank has 20 Ha of Effective Water Spread Area. We paid half the cost and the project paid half of Rs. 59,840/- for fingerlings , Additional Income (Rs./%) 231, Compared to the previous year, FCS has gained Rs. 231,960/- more. We were able to demand better rates with buyers due to the training and exposure we got. We also made the buyer to bear transportation and loading costs. As per our custom, after selling the fish, we share a portion kept aside, in equal quantities with each member (6 fish, about 5 kg) for self-consumption. We also distribute some fish free of cost to other families in the village (about 2 kg per family). Fish harvesting Sri. Ravindar said: Our FCS members are very happy with the project inputs and NSO support. We now get almost four times more fish production from our tank by following systematic fisheries practices. 6

7 Collective Marketing Increases Profits Paddy farmers of Valigonda chervu, Masaipet, Yadagiri mandal of Nalgonda district, with 202 acres ayacut has shown how collective marketing can increase their income substantial. Sri. S. Bal Reddy, chairman of CIG explained their transformation: One of the problems we farmers faced was the poor returns from paddy cultivation. We were losing a lot of money to middle men who purchased our produce. Under APCBTMP, we formed a CIG in March The 18 members of Kummarigudem Commodity Interest Group started monthly savings adding up to Rs.33,244/- After training by ADRESS (NSO) and project staff, we prepared a business plan. Based on our business plan, the projects provided the CIG an Electronic Weighing Machine, Moisture Meter, and have many Tarpaulins costing Rs lakh. We also got Rs for starting an Agri-Business fund. We purchased 8 more Tarpaulins with the CIG contribution of Rs.16,750/-. Paddy moisture measurement We are doing business successfully for the last two years. The CIG procures paddy and converts it into rice. We sell it to supermarkets and other buyers. With APCBTMP s tremendous support in technical and financial aspects, we are getting the better livelihood support to the CIG members. So we are very happy. Masaipeta CIG : Paddy Procurement, Value Addition and Profit Participants at the Buyers - Sellers Meeting organised by CGG and APCBTMP, Hyderabad 7

8 Agribusiness Opportunities for Organised Farmers Opportunities for doing agri-business are plenty for even small and marginal farmers. All they have to do is to form a Commodity Interest Group and make an agreement with one of the many buyers to supply a sizable quantity of agricultural produce. It is a win-win-win situation. The farmers increase their profits manifold, the customer gets fresh produce and the buyer (a corporate usually) gets a reasonable margin as well. This was the main conclusion arrived at in a state level workshop organized by the Centre for Good Governance (CGG) in association with I&CAD Department on Supply Chain Management of Fruits & Vegetables and Promotion of Market Linkages on 25 October The Workshop was attended by CIG leaders from APCBTMP along with project and NSO staff. Prof. J. Devi Prasad, Director, AMRG, CGG coordinated the workshop. Sri. Vinay Kumar, IFS, State Project Director, APCBTMP inaugurated the workshop. He underlined the importance of agribusiness activities which would bring the real benefits of tank restoration by the project and water management by the farmers. Not only would productivity be increased, but better price would be obtained through collective action and business tie-ups with reputed buyers. Dr. W. R. Reddy, IAS, Managing Director, Food and Agri-Business School, Hyderabad shared details about the capacity building efforts to improve production, productivity and profit of small and marginal farmers through collective action. Dr Reddy offered to train farmers in agribusiness and marketing. The buyers representatives explained the various options and schemes. Sri. Vinay Kumar, IFS inaugurating the workshop Sri. T. Sudhakar, Regional Manager, APEDA stressed the need to make proper use of pesticides and maintain details of time, quantity and mode of application, if the produce has to meet the stringent export standards. Sri Praveen Vetsa, AGM, Heritage Foods said that the retailer would buy different types rather than a single produce keeping the buyer s needs and interests in view. Sri. Ramulu, Area Manager, Mother Dairy (Fruits and Vegetables) expressed willingness to purchase sizable quantity of fruits and vegetables if farmers assure quality of produce. Sri. Manish Agarval, Head (F&V), More (ABRL) stressed that large buyers operate on the principles of business ethics, transparency, timely payment through electronic banking with no middlemen in the supply chain. Sri. Subramanyam, CEO, Shanders group said that farmers need to adopt the latest technology in crop production. Shanders group is ready to start a model farm in any village, if any cluster is willing to assure supply of vegetables from acres. Project Documentary Films are now available in project website and Uploaded in YouTube links: Overview of APCBTMP: Part -I : Part II : Part - III : Participatory Groundwater Management in APCBTMP: State Project Director (APCBTM Project) Irrigation and Command Area Development Department, Government of Andhra Pradesh Jalasoudha, 3rd Floor, Erramanzil, Hyderabad Website: pmu@apmitanks.in 8