UNCCD

Agroforestry Linked Watershed Management: Best Practice to Prevent Desertification, Land Degradation and Enhance Productivity Per Unit Area and Time| [India]

  • Creation:
  • Update:
  • Compiler:
  • Editor: –
  • Reviewer: –

Reporting Entity: India

Clarify if the technology described in the template, or a part of it, is covered by property rights: No

See history

View sections

Expand all Collapse all
Completeness: 71%

General Information

General Information

Title of best practice:

Agroforestry Linked Watershed Management: Best Practice to Prevent Desertification, Land Degradation and Enhance Productivity Per Unit Area and Time|

Country:

India

Reporting Entity:

India

Property Rights

Clarify if the technology described in the template, or a part of it, is covered by property rights:

No

Specifications

Section 1. Context of the best practice: frame conditions (natural and human environment)

Short description of the best practice

Water harvesting in nallah through series of gabion and check dams ensured availability of surface water till December and perched water in shallow dug wells throughout the year. Water availability led to regular cultivation of crops, increased fodder availability and brought prosperity to the farmers. Regular awakening of farmer to ever changing climatic conditions and regularity in income from permanent tree cover prompted farmers to grow fruit trees in site fields and teak bamboo, Kumat on field bunds.|

Location

Garhkundar-Dabar Watershed in tehsil Niwari, Distt. Tikamgarh (MP) in Central India in semi-arid tropics |

Brief description of the natural environment within the specified location.

Undulating with multidirectional complex slopes.  Average slope in crop lands (1-5%), hillocks steep, community lands with 3-7% slope.  Nallahtraverse across the watershed.|
Shallow gravelly and soil with rocky  hillocks sand witched
Semi-arid sub-tropical  wise 750-1150 mm rainfall

Prevailing socio-economic conditions of those living in the location and/or nearby

Farming, Farming + Dairying and agricultural laborers are major occupation for income |
Mixed farming community dominated by OBC, SC & ST (90%) with small and marginal holdings size.  Mostly poor people with less than ` 20,000/- per annum income.|
Mostly privately owned land either through purchase or patta from Panchayat.

On the basis of which criteria and/or indicator(s) (not related to The Strategy) the proposed practice and corresponding technology has been considered as 'best'?

This was only technology which could enhance adoption of agroforestry (tree plantation on crop lands) otherwise knowing well the benefits of agroforestry, farmers do not readily adopt. |

Section 2. Problems addressed (direct and indirect causes) and objectives of the best practice

Main problems addressed by the best practice

Agriculture productivity|Drinking water|Poverty

Outline specific land degradation problems addressed by the best practice

Soil erosion in semi-arid tropics which lead to low production on account of low fertility and water holding capacity.Poor ground—water availability limits crop production and drinking water supply.

Specify the objectives of the best practice

Increase water availability for drinking and crop production.|Increase permanent vegetal cover. |Increase and stabilize productivity and profitability from farming.

Section 3. Activities

Brief description of main activities, by objective

Reducing run off and soil loss through gabions, check dams, khadins and field boundary. |
Demonstration of improved package of practices of crop production under agroforestry system and maintaining changes in crop production, income of farmers.|
Plantation in side field or in field boundary under agroforestry systems.

Short description and technical specifications of the technology

Depending upon catchment landuse slopes, gabions of 3x1x1 m size were used in first and 2nd order stream.  Check dams were constructed in 3rd& 4th order streams.  The size of structure varied as per area, landuse and slope.  Marginal bunding was done along nallah to check silt inflow.  Khadins were used to check nallah encroachment into agricultural land.  Fruit plants were planted in side field while timber trees on field bunds.   |

Section 4. Institutions/actors involved (collaboration, participation, role of stakeholders)

Name and address of the institution developing the technology

National Research Centre for Agroforestry|Jhansi-Gwalior Road
Near Pahuj Dam
Jhansi-284003 (Uttar Pradesh)

Was the technology developed in partnership?

No

Was the participation of local stakeholders, including CSOs, fostered in the development of the technology?

Yes

List local stakeholders involved:

W/s dwellers were involved through constitution of W/s association in planning and execution of work. The idea was to inculcate belongingness into dwellers mindset for created asset.

For the stakeholders listed above, specify their role in the design, introduction, use and maintenance of the technology, if any.

Stakeholders (watershed association and common dwellers) were consulted before finalizing site of check dam, crop demonstration, plantation etc. They were involved in construction, planting activity etc. Awakening was done through continuous personal contact, Kisanmela etc. |

Analysis

Section 5. Contribution to impact

Describe on-site impacts (the major two impacts by category)

Due to water availability, greenery increased, crop fields are bunded and leveled to large extent. Field bunds are well sodded. |
Productivity increased by 20-60% across the crops and cropping intensity from 69-161%. Area under crops (rabi)
Increased by 3 times and kharif by 4 times.
Self-help Group of women accrued assets & case work ` 75000/- within 4 years and become self-reliant.
Socio economic level increased as visible from addition of 61 pucca room construction, 30 diesel pumps, 3 tractors, 1 motor cycle. School going children particularly girl child increased. Migration greatly reduced.|

Describe the major two off-site (i.e. not occurring in the location but in the surrounding areas) impacts

Surrounding farmers are awakened and demanding from their leadership for similar project Ber top working has been adopted by outside w/s dwellers. For the purpose they hired skilled man power from project area on payment.  

Impact on biodiversity and climate change

Explain the reasons:

Biodiversity of crops during rabi (main cropping season) has reduced while that in summer crops has increased. Diversity of permanent vegetation has also increased. The area is more climate resilient due to water management and plantation activity.

Has a cost-benefit analysis been carried out?

Has a cost-benefit analysis been carried out?

Yes

Section 6. Adoption and replicability

Was the technology disseminated/introduced to other locations?

Was the technology disseminated/introduced to other locations?

Yes

Can you identify the three main conditions that led to the success of the presented best practice/technology?

Transparency in implementation knowledge of work sphere consistent motivation of dwellers.

Replicability

In your opinion, the best practice/technology you have proposed can be replicated, although with some level of adaptation, elsewhere?

Yes

At which level?
  • Local

Section 7. Lessons learned

Related to human resources

Capacity building resulted in quality work.
|Institution building benefitted common man including women & marginalized group.

Related to technical aspects

Technical expertise available in the country.|Technology needs to be constantly upgraded.|Technological flexibility as per site conditions is required.

Links and modules

Expand all Collapse all

Modules