Combating Drought in Rajasthan through the Watershed Approach

B.K. Kakade
1. The Horizon
The summer of 2000 has been the worst ever for Rajasthan. In this state of India, 26
out of 32 districts have been affected by the drought. This grim picture is worsened by
the fact that out of 34,609 villages, 23,500 are reeling under drought. 37.5 million cattle
have been affected and are now left in the open to die. At least 35 million people have
been also affected. The Government of Rajasthan had demanded Rs. 11,450 million (US$
255 million) from Government of India to meet these problems. The Central Government
has announced some relief measures which include Rs.6000 million (US$ 134 million)
and supply of fodder free of cost by the railways. As an emergency measure, the center
will also rush regular water trains, fodder supplies and food grains to affected areas.
In contrast, the summer of 2000 is a time for celebration for 2 villages and 4-5
hamlets in Bundi district of Rajasthan. This is due to the phenomenal impact of a
development programme on watershed basis implemented by BAIF, a non-government
organisation based in Pune. Earlier, the badly affected villages would have faced a similar
crisis. However, due to watershed programme, they have sufficient water at their doorsteps for drinking and have also harvested abundant crops in both Kharif and Rabi. They
still have surplus water to cultivate the summer crops.
2. Baseline Situation of Area
The 5-year project on Water Resources Development and Energy Conservation for
Sustainable Management of the Environment was started in 1997 by BAIF Development
Research Foundation. The Project covers the core villages of Gokulpura and the
Govardhanpura with about 535 families and 700 hectares and about 3 villages
surrounding these villages. The socio-economic and technical surveys conducted in 1997
revealed a very poor picture. The watershed area receives an average annual rainfall of
about 360mm but this is also very erratic and rainfall failures are common. The rainfall
in 1998 was only 220 mm and that of 1999 was 250 mm.
2.1 Geo-hydrology
The groundwater system in the area consists of an unconfined aquifer formed by the
phyllitic rocks. The recharge and discharge conditions in the watershed area are
primarily governed by the lithological variations within the phyllitic rocks as well as by
the openings (and the lack of them) due to the disposition and characters of the rocks as
foliation. The folded structures in the bedrock are additional features which have to be
taken into account in the context of watershed development, since infiltration is likely to
be the greatest towards the synclinal hinge zones and least in the direction of anticlinal
hinges. The regional shear zones have created natural boundaries to the subsurface
movement of water as well. However, the rock foliation constitutes the dominant
openings which aid infiltration and movement of groundwater.

Hilly terrain, low soil fertility, denuded wastelands with rock outcrops (both common
and individual) and high rate of soil erosion, are the typical features of the area. About
100 hectares of common land was totally barren and with stray grasses, which could
hardly bear the biotic pressure. About 200 odd open wells serve the source of protective
irrigation for the crops. The use of traditional water lifting method using bullocks,
(Chadas) indicates the low yield of the well. A few farmers also use the diesel engine
operated pumpsets.
2.2 Socio-economy
The Meena tribe dominated the area. This tribe is very close to nature and has stories
to narrate about their relation with the Khejdi forests of which very little has remained.
The Pardah system still prevails in the area. The literacy is only 49 % and all the elderly
women are illiterate (except 20 women). The women play a very important role in the
economic matters of the families. Apart from grinding the grains for 2 to 4 hrs daily with
traditional grinding stones, rearing children and fetching the drinking water, women have
been playing a very active role in agriculture work. The common problems of women
due to their heavy workload were headache, backache, bodyache, nausea, and weakness.
Majority of the population is engaged in agriculture and the second occupation is land
labour and cattle rearing. A few families are also in the service (private and government)
and some are artisans. The farmers of marginal land holding groups and the landless
also migrate on a seasonal basis for food security. Most of the farmers (70%) have very
low land holding ranging from 1 to 5 hectares. About 30% households were not able to
manage the food security within the village. About 80% households were consuming the
total grains produced and had no surplus to sell. Maize and wheat are the two main crops
in the area. The dependency on money lenders with very high rates of interest 2 to 5 %
per month had been a common practice.
3. The Programme
BAIF initiated the project to conserve the natural resources, improve the groundwater
resources, develop the common and individual lands and build the capacities of the
community to manage their resources. The programme is being implemented since 1997
with the financial assistance of India Canada Environment Facility, New Delhi. This is
being implemented with activities such as treatments to the areas, drainage line
treatments, energy conservation, drinking water resource development, training and
awareness generation among the community with active participation of the community
and a scientific development. With initial resistance, reluctance and arguments, slowly
the people started coming forward after seeing the positive effect of demonstration
activities (entry point activities) and selfless work culture of BAIF. It took almost an year
to build a rapport with the community and to motivate them to participate actively in the
programme.

The activities are being implemented through Peoples Institutions developed in

the villages (7 Village Watershed Committees, 1 Charagah Samittee i.e. Silvipasture
Management Committee and 13 Womens Self Help Groups). The work done include
Field Bunding on 176 ha, Silvipasture on 45 ha (on Panchayat land), Afforestation on 30
Wasteland Development within a Watershed

ha and Horticulture on 30 ha. Under the Drainage Line Treatment, 1300 Gully Plugs, 25
Stone Bunds, 13 Permanent Checkdams/ Annicuts, 3 Underground Bandharas (Subsurface dyke) and construction of 11 Gabion structures. The indigenous knowledge of the
people and scientific methods of geo-hydrological and engineering investigations blended
well for initial assessment, planning and implementation of project activities. Innovative
measures like subsurface barriers using the clay soil in the drainage, gabion structures
and an eco-friendly and low cost structure such as gabion with the locally made net using
the grass, have proved very successful and effective structures of water harvesting.
4. Implementation Approach
All the treatment measures and water harvesting structures have been constructed by
the locals after technical trainings and guidance from the BAIF staff. The programme is
being implemented through the watershed committees, which are operating on the basis
of set rules and regulations prepared jointly by the community and BAIF.
The
maintenance, management and sharing of benefits of common assets is being looked after
by the watershed committees and user groups. The children in the village are also
actively involved in cleaning the drinking water sources (hand pumps and open wells),
plantation of the trees in and around the school campus and hygiene in the villages. The
school children as well as the teachers were trained in environmental management and
conservation and now they are actively involved in the programme with their nature clubs
formed in each village and hamlet.

The specialty of the programme approach is distinct. It includes (a) a participatory

approach in development; (b) training of the local youth in project activities; (c) use of
advanced planning and designing facilities like Remote Sensing Data and GIS; (c) expert
inputs in Engineering, Geo-hydrology, Agriculture, Cattle Development, Social Science;
(d) close project monitoring; (e) amalgamation of family based and area based approach
in development and (f) close link between BAIF field staff and the villagers.
5. Programme Outcome
A mid-term survey and analysis (end of 3rd year) to find out the impact of the project
revealed very encouraging facts. The results are of the drought year when the annual
rainfall was only about 250 mm (in 1999) which is much below the average rainfall of
360 mm.
The combined effect has resulted in ground water recharge and increased water
table, which benefits most of the wells i.e. about 200, which earlier used to remain dry
during the summer season. There is now sufficient water in the month of April (year
2000) in many wells to ensure irrigation to hot weather crops. Thus the ultimate outcome
is boost in production of agricultural crops and no dearth of food grains and water for the
villagers.
The rough estimate based on the additional area brought under cultivation and the
increase in production per hectare, indicates a net benefit of Rs. 14 million (US$ 0.30
million) worth to the villagers.
A green cover has been developed on 60 ha. The Silvipasture on 45 ha area of the
village common land has been developed and it is managed by the Charagh Samittee of
locals. The benefits accrued in 1999 (second year after development) from the charagah
area include 8 tons of fodder grass, 50% of which is used by the people for their cattle
and remaining 50% is auctioned. The broom grass collected was 250 bundles out of
which 50% has been used by the villagers and 50% was sold. The benefit gained from
the Silvipasture remains with the Charagah Samittee for future maintenance and
development. It is estimated that from this area, after meeting the fodder requirement of
the villagers, the net annual benefit will be above hundred thousands of rupees.
6. Programme Sustainability
The fact and figures given above indicate a drastic shift from under employment,
food and water scarcity to year round self-employment, food security and sufficient water
supply for drinking and irrigation. The capacities of the communities are being built to
manage resources developed and to make the development sustainable. Some of the
measures like operational peoples institutions and trained locals are the initial important
steps. So far, about Rs. 2 lakhs (US$ 4444) have contributed and kept aside in the
common fund accounts of communities for future maintenance and management.

The area under kharif crop in 1999 has increased by 30% over the baseline.
Kharif crop is now grown on 350 ha area as against 268 ha before the project.

The Rabi crop area has been increased by 65% with assured irrigation water
from the open wells (450 ha against 272 ha).

There is also increase in the summer crop area by 7% over the baseline (which
was negligible).

The main crops of the area include maize in kharif season and wheat in rabi
season. Due to sufficient water availability and improved agricultural practices,
the increase in the crop yield is very high. There is about 3 tonnes per ha
production of maize against 1 ton per ha at the baseline situation (before the
project). The increase in production of wheat is almost double i.e. about 5 tons
per ha against the 2.7 tons per ha at the baseline.

About 80% families are using the improved varieties of crops and at least 40%
have improved breeds of cows and buffaloes. Sale of a crossbreed cow for
Rs.12000/- (US$ 266) was the first case noticed in the area (this is a very high
price for their standard).

Over 60% women are now using improved cooking devices and reducing their
cooking time by 15%. The firewood quantity saved is about 25%.

The drinking water sources, mainly the hand-pumps, are now free of microbial
counts due to the close supervision of the villagers. Women have to spend only
60 minutes (maximum time) for fetching the drinking water against 2 hrs before
the project.

Some of the nallahs have been rejuvenated and have started flowing perennially
and in a couple of water harvesting structures, water remains in summer as well.

Various small scale off farm income generation activities have been started by the
women groups apart from regular saving and credit activities.
Women groups are also in the process of buying and operating the floor mill and thus
reducing the drudgery involved in traditional grinding. The villagers are now planning to
develop additional area under silvipasture and regenerate the remaining wastelands.
Strong linkages with the nearby agriculture related government departments, other rural
development agencies, local experts and the markets are being established.
6. Future Direction

With the enormous success being experienced at the mid way of the project period,
the excited villagers of the surrounding area have decided to start a similar programme in
their area to combat drought situation like the drought of 2000.
It is also very clear that the money required for drought relief is huge. If the problem
is not seriously thought of and steps are not taken to uproot the basic cause, drought will
be occurring more frequently and with more intensity. The long term planning requires
foreseeing the situation and initiating micro-watershed level development programme on
a wider scale to eradicate the chronic problem and its after effects. The investments may
seem very high at the moment but in the long term, it will definitely save a lot of
resources required for relief measures and prevent the crisis faced by the communities in
the area and political chaos created in the country.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The Project team comprising of Dr. A.K. Chaurasia, Coordinator at Bundi, M. Nadoda,
B.C.Chaudhary, H.B.Panchal, K.L.Gujar and R.Ajmera manage the project along with
the village watershed committees at Gokulpura and Govardhanpura. This is the fourth
year of the project implemented by the team under the leadership of the Chief Programme
Coordinator, Dr. M.S.Sharma. From project financing agencys side (India Canada
Environment Facility, New Delhi), Mr. Lak Tewari monitors the programme. The overall
programme, which is also being implemented in Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka, is
managed from BAIF Pune by Mr. B.K. Kakade and Mr. S.E.Pawar.
Glossary of local terms:
Anicuts
traditional water harvesting structure
Chadas
leather made water container used traditionally for lifting water from the open wells using
bullocks.
Charagah
village common land used for grazing cattle
Samittee
local word for committee
Gabion
stone bund wrapped with a chainlink
Kharif season
a crop season during June to September (monsoon/rainy season)
Khejadi
Prosopis Cinereria
Meena
a tribal community of Rajasthan
Nallah
drainage course
Panchayat (at village level elected body to look after village administration and development, lowest
village)
tier in Indian Panchayat Raj system (73rd Constitutional Amendment)
Parada system
women hide their face with cloth in front of men
Rajasthan
a state/province of India
Rabi season
a crop season during October to January (winter season)
Summer
of February to May (Normally, no rains during this period)
India
Summer crop a crop season during February to May (summer season)
season
Underground
a low cost water harvesting structure constructed below ground across the stream
Bandharas

For further details, contact:

B.K.Kakade
BAIF, Warje Malwadi, NH4
Pune-411029.
Ph-91(020)5465494
Fax-91(020)5466788
E-mail [email protected]