Short description of the best practice

The origin of the Community Managed Bio-industrial Watersheds Prof. J.S. Bali who called it “Agro-industrial Watershed Management”. The project works on the premise that watershed could go beyond natural resources management, where processing, storage and marketing is integrated with land use system. Thus, the approach builds on the conventional system of watershed management through value addition and new markets with appropriate socio-economic and institutional support systems, owned and managed by the community. |

Location

Community Managed Bio-industrial Watersheds project is implemented by MS Swaminathan Research Foundation in Pudukottai and Villupuram Districts of Tamil Nadu.

Brief description of the natural environment within the specified location.

Semi-arid, Average Annual Rainfall 1154.14 mm|
Soil texture is black clay. The bulk density ranges between 1.18-1.22 (2007-pre project), particle density ranged from 1.81 – 2.25 and water holding capacity ranges from 45.95 – 53.75. In 2011 (post project), the bulk density ranged between 1.15 – 1.22, particle density ranged from 2.10 – 2.27 and maximum water holding capacity ranged from 45.80 – 54.63.
Soil samples showed an increase in pH observed (ranging from 7.74 to 8.21) in 2011.

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

Agriculture activities

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 model of watershed management incorporates suitable land and water management through Capacity Building and Awareness,  trainings, exposure visits and most importantly by bridging the digital divide in a rural context through the VKCs.  Knowledge Management is therefore an important component of the model. The implementation also looks at the particpation of all stakeholders through a District Advisory Committee (DAC) ensuring a  scaleing  up with the participation of the concerned  line departments.|

Main problems addressed by the best practice

Land & Water Management: Repairing and rejuvenation of traditional Water bodies:  The  sluices and weir of Periya Eri (Big Tank) in the village repaired, leading to  maximium storage of water. Community wells located in the village were also repaired. Work carried out under convergence of work with the Mahatma Gandhi Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme. Eeffective water governance also facilitated by creation of a  water user group. Increase in water storage has benefitted poor and marginal farmer|Area under cultivation of each farmer has increased, and most farmers now raise 2 crops in a year. Casurina plantations  reverting to food crop cultivation.|Improving soil health. Soil health cards issued. Green manuring facilitated.  |Diversified livelihoods, especially dairy activities  promoted to enhance the income of poor and marginal farmers. Crop diversification also encouraged for income enhancement. |Water wastage and over use of chemical countered by practices of SRI, IPM and INM through capacity building and Multi Media Package for Crop Pests.

Outline specific land degradation problems addressed by the best practice

1. The micro watershed comprises 468 ha land covering wet and dry with a major portion of land being utilized as quarries or as casuarinas and eucalyptus plantations due to scarcity of water for irrigation.
2. The traditional irrigation tanks (eris) and few smaller tanks had  either fallen into disuse or not being utilized to its optimal level due to siltation and damage to the sluice, weirs etc., contributing  to the decline in land productivity.  The community open wells are placed far, so the cost of pumping increases leading the farmer to dig their own wells, but since proper lining is not done, the walls often caved in.
3. Because of Uncontrolled grazing land was being left fallow. Farmers’ were not able to take advantage of the schemes and subsidies of the government for drip/sprinkler irrigation systems since the as the fertile lands are small and split.
4. Granite Quarrying has caused land degradation and damaged the aquifers

Specify the objectives of the best practice

1. Conservation and Enhancement of Natural Resources – Participatory management of common resources through awareness, infrastructure development and facilitation of community based institutions to ensure equity and rights of the socially and economically marginalised; convergence with Panchayati Raj Institutions and Government Departments for bringing in synergy.|2. Improving On-farm Productivity & Profitability – Adopting a Participatory Technology Development (PTD) approach to improve farm productivity through Farmers Field Schools (FFS) and Training of Trainers (ToT), and promoting a holistic Integrated Farming Systems (IFS) for sustainable resource management.|3. Generation of Non and Off-farm Market driven Enterprises – Promoting diversified livelihood options for the watershed community with backward and forward credit, technology and market linkages and using ecotechnologies for livelihood security.

Brief description of main activities, by objective

Effective mechanisms for technology diffusion developed, tested and implemented – ICT initiatives.|
Bio-industrial initiatives identified, protocols developed, tested and implemented as alternative livelihood sources.|Project Learning Dissemination System established, policy advocacy carried out for agricultural research and planning.
Sustainable farming systems models and /or eco-friendly technologies developed and implemented.
Participatory Technology Development (PTD) protocol developed and tested addressing researchable issues related to soils, water, nutrients & pest management, value addition and processing.|

Short description and technical specifications of the technology

Community Managed Bio-industrial Watersheds project is implemented by MSSRF . The project works on the premise that watershed could go beyond natural resources management, where processing, storage and marketing is integrated with land use system. Thus, the approach builds on the conventional system of watershed management through value addition and new markets with appropriate socio-economic and institutional support systems, owned and managed by the community. |

Name and address of the institution developing the technology

MS Swaminathan Research Foundation|Chennai, Tamil Nadu

Was the technology developed in partnership?

Yes

List the partners:

The project got financial support from the Jamsetji Tata Trust, Mumbai.|

Specify the framework within which the technology was promoted

• Local initiative

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

Yes

List local stakeholders involved:

1. Women’s Federations and Farmers’ Producer Groups
2. Water user groups
3. SHGs
4. The Bioindustrial Watershed Committee

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

Women’s Federations and Farmers’ Producer Groups formed for enhanced strength to access credit, technology know-how, markets etc . Gender mainstream is seen.  SHGs have been only focused on women and All SHGs are enrolled in the women’s federation. Any intervention MSSRF does in the village, it is  mandatory that the beneficiaries  get approval letter from the federation.
The Bioindustrial Watershed Committee plays a pivotal role in ensuring that the community participates in all the watershed interventions and do so, the members have to be given timely and appropriate orientations and trainings.

Was the population living in the location and/or nearby involved in the development of the technology?

Yes

By means of what?

• Participatory approaches

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

The organic carbon ranged between 0.208–2.179% during 2007 which was higher than the recommended level of 0.5 – 0.75%. In contrast, the organic carbon decreased in most of the fields and the range was 0.341 – 1.03% during 2011. |
As a result of project  intervention there  has been the increase in water storage. A number of  poor and marginal farmers from the Scheduled could benefit by the recharge in their wells.The pumping hours of the wells has risen to one hour from the earlier half an hour.
2. Increase in  acreage and number of  farmers . Yields have gradually increased from 3 tonnes to 3.6 tonnes/acre for the local variety while that of the improved variety from 3.6 tonnes to 4 tonnes/acre. As a result of such efforts, survival rate of the seedlings in the nursery was close to 80%.|
1. Improvement of soil health: Due to the project intervention, the soil analysis based fertilizer application led to an increase in the phosphorus level during 2009 (3.9 to 28.7 Kg/acre). The available potassium ranged between 53.0-465.0 Kg/acre in 2007 which was higher than the recommended level.|
On a gender perspective, the watershed activities focus upon participation from the women and priority is given to women to work in the watershed activities. The BIWS Committee has given importance of bringing people together to represent caste, class and gender on an equitable manner.
System of Rice Intensification (SRI) introduced to substantially improve cultivation practice with reduced cost of cultivation and efficient management of available water.
Acres of permanent fallow could be brought back under cultivation, water for critical irrigation for paddy was made available. Moreover, the farmers could go in for two crops paddy followed by onion and vegetables leading to an increased net area and farmer can also go in for SRI cultivation.
The farmers are cultivating seasonal vegetables, area under cultivation of each farmer has increased, and farmers now raise 2 crops in a year.
With the assurance of water, farmers who were earlier unwilling to take the risk of cultivation land have gained confidence enough to even go cultivation.

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

Water recharge
Prevention of outmigration of farmers.

Has a cost-benefit analysis been carried out?

Has a cost-benefit analysis been carried out?

Yes

Was the technology disseminated/introduced to other locations?

Was the technology disseminated/introduced to other locations?

No

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

Promoting diversified livelihood options for the watershed community with backward and forward credit, technology and market linkages and using eco-technologies for livelihood security.    |
Ecology, economics, employment and equity are dealt in a holistic manner. |
Participatory management of common resources through awareness, infrastructure development and facilitation of community based institutions to ensure equity and rights of the socially and economically marginalised; convergence with Panchayati Raj Institutions and Government Departments for bringing in synergy.|

Replicability

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

Yes

Related to human resources

As a result of project  intervention there  has been the increase in water storage. A number of  poor and marginal farmers from the Scheduled could benefit by the recharge in their wells. The pumping hours of the wells has risen to one hour from the earlier half an hour. The farmers are cultivating seasonal vegetables. Area under cultivation of each farmer has increased, farmers now raise 2 crops in a year. |Land that had been converted into casuarinas plantations is reverted to food crop cultivation. The beneficiary capacity has been raised to manage the entire activities. Improvement in quality of life of women especially. Equitable water sharing with the tail-end farmers also getting water for irrigation. With the assurance of water, farmers who were earlier unwilling to take the risk of cultivation land have gained confidence enough to even go for paddy cultivation

Related to technical aspects

Due to the project intervention, the soil analysis based fertilizer application led to an increase in the phosphorus level during 2009 (3.9 to 28.7 Kg/acre). The available potassium ranged between 53.0-465.0 Kg/acre in 2007 which was higher than the recommended level of 58.0–138.0 Kg/acre. The organic carbon ranged between 0.208–2.179% during 2007 which was higher than the recommended level of 0.5 – 0.75%. |In contrast, the organic carbon decreased in most of the fields and the range was 0.341 – 1.03% during 2011. The exchangeable calcium during 2007 ranged between 18.0 – 36.0 m.equ/100g soil, this was higher than the recommended level of 5.0 – 10.0 m.equ/100g soil. In 2011, the exchangeable calcium decreased to 24.0- 31.0 m.eq/100g soil. Magnesium ranged from 5.6 -24.0 m.eq/100g soil (2007). Exchangeable magnesium decreased in 2007, to ranges of 5.0 – 12.5 m.eq/100g soil. |Ninety eight soil health cards for paddy farmers and thirty four for onion farmers have been issued. Green manuring  and summer ploughing has been adopted by farmers .  Improved water infiltration and water holding capacity and control over weeds and pests has helped influence the yield.|System of Rice Intensification (SRI) introduced to substantially improve cultivation practice with reduced cost of cultivation and efficient management of available water. Testing, demonstration and extension of demonstration trials based on Integrated Pest, Nutrient and Crop Management (IPM/INM/ICM) carried out.  |This was adopted for different crops based on the Participatory Technology Development (PTD) approach, involving a participatory approach to strengthen the farmer’s skills on agriculture; building confidence and dissemination of technology.