Building Resilience to Drought: Field insights on watershed development

1. Building Resilience to Drought: Field insights on watershed development By Shashikant Chopde Sr. Program Officer

3. Cases from Gujarat Case Area Profile SKTGSM Amreli district, Savarkundla taluka; Rainfall: 540 mm; 10%-15% slope; Basaltic GW formations; open wells and tubewells; heterogeneous community (Patels, Kolis, Muslims, Kumbhars, Harijans). SEWA Patan district, Santalpur and Radhanpur taluka; Rainfall: 175 mm; 0-5% slope; recent alluvium; saline groundwater; heterogeneous community (Ahirs, Rabaris, Thakores).

4. Cases from Rajasthan Case Area Profile SEVA MANDIR Udaipur district, Jhadol, Badgaon block; Rainfall:640 mm; 25-40% land slope; hard rock (poor storage), open wells; tribals, heterogeneous community. PRADAN Alwar district, Kishangad Bas block; Rainfall: 650 mm; terrain: >20% (closed WS), 10-15 % (open WS); hard rock overlain by thin alluvium, open wells and tubewells; heterogeneous community (Sardars, Meus, Jatwas).

5. Research… • Assessment of Natural Capital • Augmentation of water, land and forest resources; • Assessment of Social Capital • Institutional Capital: Local institutions to manage local resources on a sustainable basis, leading to widening of livelihood options, better drought coping strategies, development of water, food and fodder security; • Human Capital: Fund of human skills and knowledge available locally in a given region. – –

6. Research • Contribution of social and natural capital to combat drought, and enhance livelihood options: • Impact on migration; • Social and gender equity; • Sustainable and efficient use of natural resources; • Security – fodder, food and water.

7. Field study… • Focus group discussions with: • Watershed committee • Village development committee • Other institutions (credit, dairy etc.) • Women groups • Other groups in the community • Interviews – leaders, village sarpanch, farmers • Visit to farmer’s fields and watershed structures • Debriefing meeting with implementing organizations

8. relation between social capital, social benefits and institutional sustainablity Social Endowments Social structuresGender Relations (caste/class) Prior social capital Creation of CBOs: Equal participation of all SH groups Broad-based leadership Separate interventions for empowerment; women’s CBOs; broad-based leadership Investment in Human Capital Implementation of WS proagramme Investment in Common vs. private assets Perception of Equity Orientation of Support institution: ST project oriented Vs. LT development oriented Institutional Sustainability

9. variables affecting institutional stability and sustainability Perceived Social Equity Low High ST project Orientation Orientation of Institution LT Develop. orientation Likely conflicts Episodic instn. during becoming implementation dormant; but potential to grow beyond WS Likely conflicts Continued beyond WS proj. relevance; good chances of sustainability SKTGSM, PRADAN (isolated) SM, SEWA, PRADAN federated

10. Relation between Investments and Drought Proofing/ Livelihood Security Investment in Social Capital Investment in Natural Capital Creation/augmentation of natural assets Creation/augmentation of social assets Benefits to Stakeholders: Water, fodder, food security Livelihood security • Pattern of benefits: • Caste/class differential • Gender differential Magnitude of Benefits Drought proofing & Livelihood Security Impact on social relations and structure Conventional New (value added) Other non-farm livelihood options WS treatment strengthening Agriculture and animal husbandry Market interventions Technology devp. Resource base devp.

11. Water and Fodder Security Issues Ratakhurd Beda ka Bas Chorbasi Khowas Drinking water Drinking water is available through the year due to 14 dug wells Drinking water is available through the year due to 35 dug & 4 bore wells Drinking water is available through the year Villagers depend upon a well on hillock 2.5 kms away and dug wells Irrigation water Around 300 bigha increased area under irrigation during normal year through wells Additional 200 bigha under irrigation during normal year 400 bigha under submergence or irrigation Poor coverage due to dug wells yielding water 0.5-2 hours running of engine per day in 40-50 wells Food security Enough food even in the current drought Enough food even in the current drought Enough food even in current drought Village has got the food for 6-7 months only Fodder security Fodder crises due to focused irrigation on onion cultivation Fodder crises due to focused irrigation on onion cultivation Fodder crises due to focused irrigation on onion cultivation Fodder scarcity started from March, 2003. Six animals have already died

12. Water and Fodder Security Issues Ratakhurd Beda ka Bas Chorbasi Khowas Drinking water Drinking water is available through the year due to 14 dug wells Drinking water is available through the year due to 35 dug & 4 bore wells Drinking water is available through the year Villagers depend upon a well on hillock 2.5 kms away and dug wells Irrigation water Around 300 bigha increased area under irrigation during normal year through wells Additional 200 bigha under irrigation during normal year 400 bigha under submergence or irrigation Poor coverage due to dug wells yielding water 0.5-2 hours running of engine per day in 40-50 wells Food security Enough food even in the current drought Enough food even in the current drought Enough food even in current drought Village has got the food for 6-7 months only Fodder security Fodder crises due to focused irrigation on onion cultivation Fodder crises due to focused irrigation on onion cultivation Fodder crises due to focused irrigation on onion cultivation Fodder scarcity started from March, 2003. Six animals have already died

13. Strategy Ratakund Beda Ka Bas Khowar (Control village) Distress selling of animals 1-2 animals/ Hh sold; 20-50% of original price Buffaloes at 30% and goats at 60-80% of original price 1-2 /Hh sold 10% of original price Animal husbandry for food security Retained 1-2 buffaloes; fodder available in village Retained1-2 buffaloes; Fodder available in village Six animals reportedly died; Purchasing wheat straw @ Rs. 2.5-5.0/- Kg. SHG got loan of Rs. 40,000/-, Mortgaged land for loan to buy fodder under govt. scheme Borrowing Increasing debt burden among poor - Govt. loan scheme to buy fodder: Rs. 14,000/- against one vigha land under mortgage. 15 Harijans also mortgaged land to get Rs. 4000/- vigha Migration - Daily migration: 8-10 families to Kishangadh for construction work One member per Hh migrate for wage employment to stone mining, mason work and agriculture labour Well deepening Rs 10,000-40,000/ spent per well to deepen, in hope of getting water – failed. Drought Coping Strategies: Alwar

14. development of new livelihood options Markets Local mkts Distant mkts Women’s milk Existing Salt coops. Technology Gum collection Bio-pesticides New Existing Resource Base New S Musli Ratanjyot S.

15. Livelihood Augmentation due to WS Treatment vs. Special Livelihood Interventions Low Due to Livelihood interventions SEWA Low High Seva Mandir SKTGSM PRADAN High Due to watershed treatment

16. Thank You !!