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By Lalitha Sridhar The ICRISAT-developed Adarsha watershed management project near the village of Kothapally has yielded dramatic results. Groundwater levels have risen, green cover increased, and productivity and incomes in this semi-arid tropic region radically improved
Kothapally village is like any other village on the Indian subcontinent: clusters of thatched roofs set amidst wild thickets and open drainage, with meandering alleys leading off a central 'avenue'. There is the sudden bright-green brick-and-mortar house, with chicken scurrying about and the odd goat adding to the picture of relative prosperity. Kothapally is a semi-arid tropic (SAT) region defined by unpredictable weather, limited and erratic rainfall and nutrient-poor soil. SAT regions are home to one-sixth of the world's people, and the world's poorest citizens. With a population of 1,500, Kothapally enjoys an annual rainfall of 716 mm. But there was a 20% deficit in 2001, and a 30% deficit in 2002. Kothapally has been a pioneer in taking a multi-disciplinary, multi-institutional consortium approach towards integrated watershed management. The Adarsha (ideal) watershed that surrounds the village was developed by ICRISAT (the International Crops Research Institute for Semi-Arid Tropics) and implemented in collaboration with the MV Foundation (an NGO), the Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture, the National Remote Sensing Agency, the Drought Prone Area Programme and the farmers themselves. (Active farmer participation was, in fact, identified as a key component without which the constraints of the region and their causes could not have been understood and resolved.) Says Dr J J Rego, principal scientist, soil science, at ICRISAT: "Earlier, the approach used to be nominal or minimum participation. Now it is people-centric -- the intention is to extend the benefits of watershed management to most people in the project area. Local NGOs and SHGs (self-help groups) also play an important role. In Kothapally, a group called the Progressive Farmers Association and READ (Rural Education and Agricultural Development, an NGO) are involved. We are technically backed by our collaborating partners." Using both existing and new technologies, ICRISAT employed low-cost soil and water conservation structures, environment-friendly nutrient management options, eco-friendly pest and disease control, crop diversification with legumes to avoid air and water (groundwater, streams and rivers) pollution, on-farm income-generation through innovative crops and cropping systems, off-season/off-farm income-generation for landless labourers, women and youth. The results were direct and immediate. Groundwater levels improved by five-six metres, green cover increased from 129 ha in 1996, to 200 ha in 2000. Productivity more than doubled. Between 1998 and 2001, maize production increased from 1,500 to 3,300 kg/ha, and sorghum from 1,070 to 2,600 kg/ha. Incomes jumped too, as total incomes increased to Rs 20,500/ha with profits up to Rs 14,600/ha. Says Narasimha Reddy, a farmer: "We started in 1999. Now we have watershed committees and a sense of better control over our lives. In the four-year period since 1999, all watershed management activities have been incorporated. Check-dams and other techniques helped us increase the water in our wells. ICRISAT helped us in other ways too. Many of us were growing cotton, which is labour intensive and pays poorly -- more expense and less profit. Now we grow maize and pigeon pea. These have improved yields and made farming easier. Earlier it was poor income and sometimes loss. Most people migrated. But now we are able to stay because it is worthwhile to remain in the village." "In rain-fed agriculture, only one crop is usually raised. Farmers in Kothapally village have managed to grow a crop this summer, despite the drought in adjoining areas, due to a successful watershed development project in the area," says Dr Rego. He points to a check-dam and explains: "This cost Rs 24,000 and has been built by the farmers. It costs only Rs 8/cubic metre of water stored, a far more economical option for water management." Kothapally now has 13 check-dams and mini-percolation tanks. "Ten years back," says another farmer Narayana Reddy, pointing to a deep, roughly hewn reservoir/well that suddenly plunges into the soil, "eight men worked for two months to dig this and it cost us Rs 40,000. The village had 70 borewells and many had to be abandoned because they ran dry. Paani nahin hai to kaam nahin hai (If there is no water there is no work). But after the watershed work started, there is always some water. "Local material was used. They say it will last 50 years. All the children go to the village balwadi; earlier they were employed as labour for picking cotton. Maize requires far less labour. I get 20 quintals of maize per acre now and I can sell it for Rs 5 a kilo. In our village, we have 200 acres under cultivation. Now we are waiting for the rains. Till then, with the check-dam and well water, I grow tomato, cucumber, carrot, chilli and onion. We sell it in Hyderabad. Yields are good." Dr S P Wani, scientist and ICRISAT officer, is the man spearheading the Adarsha model watershed project in Kothapally. "The main constraint is water," he says. "It has to be used efficiently. In one or two days of good rains, the check-dams fill up quickly and excess water flows down like a relay to other dams downstream. We don't encourage pumping and explain that the groundwater must be allowed to recharge. Major percolation happens between June and October. "To begin with, the project focussed on individual farmers, showing them soil and water conservation techniques. Once convinced of the benefits, visible in improved financial returns, they were encouraged to contribute towards building community infrastructure." In effective water management, the most appropriate land unit is the watershed. Wani adds: "We have researched the integrated watershed management approach for rain-fed areas for the last 25 years. Our findings show that through effective watershed management, we can use 65% of rainfall for crop production, as opposed to the 30% normally utilised. It is possible to double the use of water in terms of efficiency, with proper watershed management." "Things have been really bad in the last two years. We have not seen such a drought in the last 25 years," says Khairunnissa Begum, a middle-aged farmwoman. "With no rain, life has become difficult. They have brought about some improvements so we are able to manage and survive. We also grow vegetables now. Otherwise, how to feed our children? We have about 17 self-help groups. We pay Rs 30 a month and withdraw money whenever we need it. It is very useful. Women have been taught to do vermi-composting and seed-production. It also brings in money." And then she asks: "Who would do it if there was no benefit?" ICRISAT says its project is being replicated in China, Thailand and Vietnam, with funding from the Asian Development Bank. Farmers from the nearby watersheds of Nawabpet and Adilabad districts have also evinced interest in replicating the project. The Andhra Pradesh Rural Livelihoods Project wants to implement the model in the three districts of Mahboobnagar, Kurnool and Nalgonda. The Sir Dorabji Tata Foundation is funding the implementation of the model in two districts in Madhya Pradesh and one in Rajasthan. -- By Lalitha Sridhar
(Lalitha Sridhar is a Chennai-based freelance journalist) InfoChange News & Features, July 2003
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