1.2 Contact details of resource persons and institutions involved in the assessment and documentation of the Approach

Name of project which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Approach (if relevant)

Soil protection and rehabilitation for food security (ProSo(i)l)

Name of the institution(s) which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Approach (if relevant)

Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ)

Name of the institution(s) which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Approach (if relevant)

Alliance Bioversity and International Center for Tropical Agriculture (Alliance Bioversity-CIAT) - Kenya

Name of the institution(s) which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Approach (if relevant)

Ecociate Consultants (Ecociate Consultants) - India

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

The compiler and key resource person(s) accept the conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT:

Yes

2.1 Short description of the Approach

The e-Prakriti approach is a GIS-based planning approach that integrates natural farming interventions for effective management, monitoring, and conservation of natural resources at the landscape level. It can be applied for projects such as soil and water management, land reclamation, crop and seed systems design and agri-infrastructure mapping. To establish and maintain an e-Prakriti system, it is necessary to collect and manage data effectively, to build capacity among stakeholders, to have the appropriate technology infrastructure in place and to promote the engagement of local communities with conservation organizations.

2.2 Detailed description of the Approach

Detailed description of the Approach:

The e-Prakriti approach is a planning method that utilizes GIS tools to integrate ecosystem-based natural farming interventions into agricultural operations. It focuses on creating scientific and efficient planning techniques that consider the landscape as a unit, such as a Village, Block, District and watersheds or river basins. This approach uses open-source datasets, including spatial and non-spatial data, to develop a comprehensive activity plan for natural resource management at a landscape level and having natural farming approaches as its core.

To facilitate the planning process using the various open-source platforms, GIZ has developed a comprehensive guide cum training module under the Pro-Soil Project. This guide comprehensively captures the different open-source platforms and their application to the local context, so to plan and implement natural-farming based interventions. The guide can be used to build the capacity of local-community resource persons, members of local self-governance (Panchayati Raj) institutions and other projects working at the village or cluster level.

The primary purpose of e-Prakriti is to enable effective and efficient management, monitoring, and conservation of natural resources, including sustainable soil management, water management, degraded land reclamation, crop and seed system design, bio-resource and fodder assessment, agro-infrastructure mapping, and the planning of sustainable enterprises. This e-Prakriti approach is used to conduct inventory and management of natural resources, such as forests, wetlands, and wildlife habitats, by mapping the extent and distribution of these resources and tracking their use and status over time. The e-Prakriti approach monitors changes in natural resources, evaluates the effectiveness of conservation measures, and identifies areas that require further intervention. Additionally, e-Prakriti technology can support planning and decision-making related to natural resource management by identifying areas most suitable for conservation or development activities.

Establishing and maintaining an e-Prakriti approach requires data collection on natural resources, effective data management, building capacity among stakeholders, appropriate technology infrastructure and institutional support. The benefits and impacts of the e-Prakriti approach include promoting sustainable development, improving natural resource management, reducing disaster risks, increasing community participation, improving policy and decision-making and conserving biodiversity. Land users' perceptions and experiences of e-Prakriti may vary depending on factors such as socio-economic background, level of education, cultural values and their relationship with natural resources. It is important to consider these factors when designing and implementing e-Prakriti approaches to meet the needs and expectations of land users.

GIZ has collaborated with the State Rural Livelihood Mission of Madhya Pradesh (MP-SRLM) for the practical application of the e-Prakriti approach in the planning process by the local community resource persons. GIZ provides training and operational support to team members for the successful application of e-Prakriti approaches in day-to-day work.

2.3 Photos of the Approach

2.5 Country/ region/ locations where the Approach has been applied

2.6 Dates of initiation and termination of the Approach

2.7 Type of Approach

• project/ programme based

2.8 Main aims/ objectives of the Approach

The objective of this tool is to create a scientific and efficient approach for planning natural farming interventions through the use of GIS-based mapping

2.9 Conditions enabling or hindering implementation of the Technology/ Technologies applied under the Approach

3.1 Stakeholders involved in the Approach and their roles

3.2 Involvement of local land users/ local communities in the different phases of the Approach

	Involvement of local land users/ local communities	Specify who was involved and describe activities
initiation/ motivation	passive	They have been discussed to understand their specific needs, resources availability and applications for developing the basic understanding
planning	interactive	Local community institutions were involved in the process of planning to understand the local cost specifications, local cropping patterns and to collect and validate the data points
implementation	self-mobilization	Local community institutions did implement the interventions with technical guidance from the project implementing team
monitoring/ evaluation	interactive	During the monitoring process images and data points collected from the satellites were physically validated from the community members. Also, discussions are held with communities to understand the social and economic impact of the project interventions.

3.3 Flow chart (if available)

3.4 Decision-making on the selection of SLM Technology/ Technologies

Specify who decided on the selection of the Technology/ Technologies to be implemented:

• all relevant actors, as part of a participatory approach

Specify on what basis decisions were made:

• research findings
• personal experience and opinions (undocumented)

4.1 Capacity building/ training

Was training provided to land users/ other stakeholders?

Yes

Specify who was trained:

• field staff/ advisers

If relevant, specify gender, age, status, ethnicity, etc.

The Community resource person is trained on different maps and related interpretations. The first level of planning is made using open GIS sources which are later validated by the CRP along with the community in the village. Once the plan is finalized in a participatory manner, the program is implemented and monitored using the GIS tool.

Form of training:

• on-the-job
• demonstration areas
• courses

Subjects covered:

1 Village boundaries
2 Village Assets and Infrastructure
3 Watershed / Sub-basin Map
4 Natural Drainage line
8 Availability of groundwater
5 Further resources on Water
5 Geomorphology
6 Slopes within the topography
7 Lineaments- cracks in the land for the generation of aquifiers
8 Soil Erosion
10 Soil kinds/data
11 Land usage pattern
12 Crop season land
13 Wastelands Map

Comments:

E-Prakriti is a training module which can be used by various stakeholders for the training and handholding of field team members.

4.2 Advisory service

Do land users have access to an advisory service?

Yes

Specify whether advisory service is provided:

• on land users' fields

4.3 Institution strengthening (organizational development)

Have institutions been established or strengthened through the Approach?

• no

4.4 Monitoring and evaluation

Is monitoring and evaluation part of the Approach?

Yes

Comments:

This tool can be used for monitoring the project interventions by having the pre- and post-project images from the satellite

If yes, is this documentation intended to be used for monitoring and evaluation?

No

4.5 Research

Was research part of the Approach?

No

5.1 Annual budget for the SLM component of the Approach

If precise annual budget is not known, indicate range:

• < 2,000

Comments (e.g. main sources of funding/ major donors):

The major cost involved is in developing the e-Prakriti module, the cost of which was incurred by the GIZ.
Another important cost component is capacity building of the stakeholders.

5.2 Financial/ material support provided to land users

Did land users receive financial/ material support for implementing the Technology/ Technologies?

No

5.3 Subsidies for specific inputs (including labour)

• none

5.4 Credit

Was credit provided under the Approach for SLM activities?

No

5.5 Other incentives or instruments

Were other incentives or instruments used to promote implementation of SLM Technologies?

Yes

If yes, specify:

Training and handholding of stakeholders

6.1 Impacts of the Approach

6.2 Main motivation of land users to implement SLM

6.3 Sustainability of Approach activities

Can the land users sustain what has been implemented through the Approach (without external support)?

• yes

If yes, describe how:

The approach developed is a guidebook, which can be used by anyone using the available open-access platform which is free to use

6.4 Strengths/ advantages of the Approach

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
Efficient mapping of the resources available to different stakeholders which sometimes community members may not be aware of
Convergence opportunities with different line departments once resources are mapped and activities are finalised
Reduced workload of the community members and their institutions as they need not be physically present every time

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
Scientific and evidence based method of planning with a lot of saving in time and resources with better accuracy. Sometimes connecting with communities as well as visiting field areas take a lot of time.
The approach can also be used for developing the financial outlays for the shortlisted interventions by getting the physical inputs, conducting the assessments through images and maps collected from open access platforms
The e-Prakriti approach can be very effective in the monitoring of the project interventions as satellite-based maps of pre- and post-interventions or geotagged images may provide scientific evidences

6.5 Weaknesses/ disadvantages of the Approach and ways of overcoming them

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the land user’s view	How can they be overcome?
Not much exposed to this approach for planning	Handholding through demonstrations
Availability of computer devices to access the maps	Although computers are available at affordable prices in some cases, there may be financial support from the project or government agencies

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
Technology keeps on updating thus the users need to update and upgrade themselves to ensure the usages at ground	Regular training and handholding of the users either physically or remotely
Availability of high speed internet for using the platforms; Currently most land users and CRPs do use internet using their mobile hotspots, access to wi-fi may may not be there	Identified planners or CRPs can be provided with internet devices or they can be linked with Wi-Fi available at different Government bodies

7.1 Methods/ sources of information

7.3 Links to relevant information which is available online

Title/ description:

e-Prakriti for comprehensive planning of natural farming practices

URL:

Physical copy shared by GIZ