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

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

1.5 Reference to Questionnaire(s) on SLM Approaches (documented using WOCAT)

Comprehensive watershed development [India]

Participatory approach that includes a package of measures leading to empowerment of communities to implement and sustain watershed development.

• Compiler: David Gandhi
• 01/21/2009 midnight

2.1 Short description of the Technology

Definition of the Technology:

Dugout pond is a sunken water harvesting structure constructed along the rills in upper catchment for the purpose of storage of runoff and recharge of ground water.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

Dugout pond is a rectangular shape subsurface pond with the excavated material forming an embankment down stream. It is constructed in the upper catchment of the watershed, along the rill/shallow gully. The site for the pond should be where there is a depression. The size may vary from small to large depending on the size of catchment, needs of the farmers, availability of finance, bed rock strata.

Purpose of the Technology: 1- Storage of runoff. 2- Increase in water levels of shallow wells 'odees' through increased percolation. 3- Flood control through series of such structures. 4- Low cost, low risk alternative for poor community. 5- Benefits to community living in upper catchment.

Establishment / maintenance activities and inputs: 1- Site selection with community. 2- Design and preparation of estimate by the project staff. 3- Descussion with VWDC and community, identification of users, descussion regarding contribution, agreement, work plan. 4- Layout and construction under VWDC supervision with technical support from the project. 5- Treatment of catchment.

Natural / human environment: Responsibility of user group.

2.3 Photos of the Technology

2.5 Country/ region/ locations where the Technology has been applied and which are covered by this assessment

Country:

India

Region/ State/ Province:

Madhya Pradesh

Specify the spread of the Technology:

• evenly spread over an area

If the Technology is evenly spread over an area, specify area covered (in km2):

48.0

If precise area is not known, indicate approximate area covered:

• 10-100 km2

Comments:

Total area covered by the SLM Technology is 48 km2.

The area comprises 36 villages with 1632 household mainly tribal. Villages comprise a larger settlement along with a number of hamlets. The topography is rolling and gently undulating. The area forms the catchment of the Larki stream, which forms the upper catchment of the river Mahi.

Map

×

2.6 Date of implementation

If precise year is not known, indicate approximate date:

• less than 10 years ago (recently)

2.7 Introduction of the Technology

Specify how the Technology was introduced:

• through projects/ external interventions

Comments (type of project, etc.):

The technology has been developed by the project as modification/improvement to Dugout pond constructed under NWDPRA (National Watershed Development Program for Rainfed Areas).

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

• adapt to climate change/ extremes and its impacts

3.2 Current land use type(s) where the Technology is applied

Land use mixed within the same land unit:

Yes

Specify mixed land use (crops/ grazing/ trees):

• Agro-pastoralism (incl. integrated crop-livestock)

Cropland

• Annual cropping

Annual cropping - Specify crops:

• cereals - maize
• cereals - wheat (winter)
• fibre crops - cotton
• legumes and pulses - beans
• legumes and pulses - other
• legumes and pulses - soya

Number of growing seasons per year:

• 2

Specify:

Longest growing period in days: 150 Longest growing period from month to month: Nov - Mar Second longest growing period in days: 135 Second longest growing period from month to month: Jun - Sep

Grazing land

Comments:

Major land use problems (compiler’s opinion): 1. Utilisation of slopy and stony (class VI) land for agriculture. 2. Agriculture practices along the slope, use of erosion permitting crop eg. Cotton, Maize. 3. Excessive grazing of grass land.

Major land use problems (land users’ perception): shallow soils, low soil moisture , low yields , non-availability of grazing land.

Type of cropping system and major crops comments: Monsoon - Cotton + Maize + Blackgram /Soyabean. Winter (with irrigation) - Wheat + Gram (excluding Cotton fields).

3.4 Water supply

Water supply for the land on which the Technology is applied:

• rainfed

Comments:

Water supply: Also mixed rainfed - irrigated

3.5 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• water harvesting
• irrigation management (incl. water supply, drainage)
• ground water management

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

soil erosion by water

• Wg: gully erosion/ gullying

water degradation

• Ha: aridification

Comments:

Main type of degradation addressed: Ha: aridification

Secondary types of degradation addressed: Wg: gully erosion / gullying

Main causes of degradation: other human induced causes (specify) (Social causes - Lack of awareness and mobilisation amongst the communities.), Top down approach (Macro planning rather than micro (village level) planning.)

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

Technical specifications (related to technical drawing):

Technical Drawing of Dugout Pond

Technical knowledge required for field staff / advisors: moderate

Technical knowledge required for land users: low

Main technical functions: increase of infiltration

Secondary technical functions: control of dispersed runoff: retain / trap, water harvesting / increase water supply

Construction material (earth): Excavated material used for embankment.

Construction material (stone): Excavated stones used for pitching.

Author:

Rajesh Parihar, India

4.2 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

other/ national currency (specify):

Rupees

If relevant, indicate exchange rate from USD to local currency (e.g. 1 USD = 79.9 Brazilian Real): 1 USD =:

48.85

4.3 Establishment activities

4.4 Costs and inputs needed for establishment

Comments:

Duration of establishment phase: 12 month(s)

4.5 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

4.6 Costs and inputs needed for maintenance/ recurrent activities (per year)

Comments:

The size of dugout described in 2.7.1 is :- Excavated area - 13m long X 12m wide X 2.5m Bund - 30m long X2.5m height X 2m top width X 7m bottom width

4.7 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

1- Cost of excavation increases with hardness of strata. 2- Non availability of stones locally for pitching.

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

Comments and further specifications on topography:

Landforms: Ridges (ranked 1, gradually undulating topography) and hill slopes (ranked 2)
Slopes on average: Moderate (ranked 1, fields in upper catchment) and gentle (ranked 2, fields in valley portion)

5.3 Soils

If available, attach full soil description or specify the available information, e.g. soil type, soil PH/ acidity, Cation Exchange Capacity, nitrogen, salinity etc.

Soil depth on average: Shallow (ranked 1, fields on ridge/slopes), very shallow (ranked 2, ridge portion) and moderately deep (ranked 3, fields in valley)
Soil fertility: Medium (ranked 1) and low (ranked 2, fields on ridge/slopes, grass land)
Soil drainage/infiltration: Good (ranked 1, sloping land, shallow soils) and medium (ranked 2, fields in valley)
Soil water storage capacity: Low (ranked 1, shallow soils) and medium (ranked 2, deep soils)

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

Indicate other relevant characteristics of the land users:

Population density: 200-500 persons/km2
Annual population growth: > 4%
33% of the land users are average wealthy and own 33% of the land (Few farmers with wells, fields in valley.).
50% of the land users are poor and own 57% of the land (Majority of farmers.).
17% of the land users are poor and own 10% of the land (Very small holding.).
Off-farm income specification: While main income is from rainfed agriculture, significant income is obtained during migration, which increases during drought periods.
Level of mechanization: Animal traction (ranked 1, land preparation), manual labour (ranked 2, land preparation, weeding, harvesting) and mechanised (ranked 3, threshing)

5.8 Land ownership, land use rights, and water use rights

Land ownership:

• communal/ village

Land use rights:

• open access (unorganized)
• individual

6.4 Cost-benefit analysis

How do the benefits compare with the establishment costs (from land users’ perspective)?

How do the benefits compare with the maintenance/ recurrent costs (from land users' perspective)?

6.5 Adoption of the Technology

If available, quantify (no. of households and/ or area covered):

1672

Comments:

100% of land user families have adopted the Technology with external material support

1632 land user families have adopted the Technology with external material support

Comments on acceptance with external material support: estimates

40 land user families have adopted the Technology without any external material support

Comments on spontaneous adoption: survey results

There is a little trend towards spontaneous adoption of the Technology

Comments on adoption trend: The community is very poor and hence requires some financial support to offset loss of wages.

7.1 Methods/ sources of information