Case4-January-2014
The DHANA project is one of the significant initiatives of DHAN Foundation and Axis Bank Foundation to enhance the livelihoods of the 60000 families, in the project area through efficient use of the tank and ground water. Tank and pond renovation works were done in four blocks Natham in Dindigul, Kottampatti in Madurai, S.Pudhur in Sivagangai and Ponnamaravathi in Pudhukottai all which fells under Pambar river basin. The farmers in the project area are mostly small and marginal farmer who depend on tankfed agriculture for their livelihood. There are 2395 tanks in the four blocks and the article shares about the conjunctive use of tank and ground water for agriculture and the augmentation of ground water because of extensive tank renovation works done in the region. Four case studies are presented in the article which highlights the significant impact of the renovation works done in Pambar River Basin
AXIS Bank Foundation (ABF) has committed itself to supporting various developmental organizations engaged in socially relevant endeavours viz., education for the underprivileged/special child, public health, highway trauma care and in providing sustainable livelihoods. ABF’s new area of focus is providing sustainable livelihoods to one million poor, ensuring that at least 50% of the beneficiaries are women. The DHANA project (DHAN-Axis Bank) is one such project aimed at developing sustainable livelihoods for farmers in four drought prone block of Tamil Nadu through revival of 750 tanks in Kottampatti (Madurai District) , Natham (Dindigul District), S.Pudhur (Sivagangai District) and Ponnamaravathi (Pudhukottai District) blocks in Tamil Nadu. Among the 750 tanks 625 tanks will be used for irrigating crop fields and another 125 tanks to address the problem of drinking water shortage in the villages.
The project commenced in March 2011 and is very close to completing three years. The following were agreed as the deliverable impacts of the project by DHAN Vayalagam (Tank) Foundation – DV(T)F
Through these interventions, ABF expects to bring about at least a 40% increase in the family income of the direct beneficiaries and at least a 20% increase in the family income of the indirect beneficiaries.
In the last two decades its tank rehabilitation and water shed development works, DHAN Foundation has gained adequate knowledge on measures that will improve ground water recharge through tanks. Our works in varied agro-climatic, hydro-geologic localities have provided an in-depth understanding on the use of tanks for ground water recharges. The professional team of the foundation has completed around 2000 more tank rehabilitation works which resulted in recharging and rejuvenation of numerous wells. Our works in the district of Theni is solely aimed at ground water recharging through the dead tanks. A full team of professionals experienced in Tank works and Ground water issues work in this district. A farmers federation has been promoted by DHAN Foundation with more than 35 Tank Farmers Association as members at the village level. Nearly around¬ 400 wells have got benefited by the influence of around 20 revived tanks. The proposal based on the above successful experience and confidence in executing tank rehabilitation through farmers’ participation has been sent to CGWB also during the year 1999.
The impact of ground water recharge through the ponds has been reviewed by Dr. R.Sakthivadivel and Thiruvenkatasamy of Centre for Water Resources, Anna University, Chennai . The summary of these findings are given below:
Experiments conducted in Annasagaram and Errahalli in Dharmapuri district for two years without pond and three years with pond on the yield of wells. It has been found that there is sustained increase in yield in the post pond construction situation continuously for the period of observation i.e., 3 years from 1980 - 81 to 82 - 83. It has been positively proved that the water level increases due to percolation pond.
In Dharmapuri district, the zone of influence extends upto a distance of 1.3 kilometer when the slope of the water spread area is 1 percent and in Madurai district, the zone of influence extends upto 1.0 Km when the slope of the water spread area is 1 percent.
It has been found that the quantum of evaporation from the tank is proportional to the water spread area. When the depth of storage is increased per unit volume of storage, evaporation from the pond is reduced. It is observed that the volume of storage has little influence on the evaporation. The slope of the water spread area influences the depth of storage and consequently it affects the evaporation. The higher the depth of storage,. the greater is the rate of percolation of water.
We here with share the some of the cases of the evaluation study conducted at the DHANA Project for the significant impact of the ground water recharge and conjunctive use of ground water for the agriculture intervention and incremental yield for the farming community.
Name / Location of Tank : Vandagacholan Tank in Kottampatti Block, Madurai district
Date of Visit : Tank, Command and Catchment Area Visited on: 22nd February 2013
Members of Vayalagam : 68
Benefiting Farmers : Direct 68 Members with 63 acres in the tank command;
Works undertaken between : between June 2011 and August 2011; sluice Gate reconstruction + leading channel in command area (15 metres) and fish pond
Renovation Cost : Rs. 184,000/-
The tank has 36 wells in the command area. Paddy was sown in the entire command area of 63 acres in
September 2011 and harvested in January 2012. Second crop of Paddy was also taken between January 2012
and March / April 2012. Due to failure of rains, in September 2012 only 50 % area was sown with paddy and
harvested in January 2013. Fish rearing has been an integral part of the tank and water stored for fish rearing
resulted in recharging the wells, which enabled raising of second crop of paddy in about 35 acres. Due to
failure of rain in 2012, there was no fish rearing activity. During September 2011 and mid 2012, two harvests
of fish resulted in an income of र 100,000/- and र 50,000/- each, against costs of र 40,000/- each time; the
real benefit was in terms of recharge of wells in the command area that enabled cultivation of second crop
of paddy from 35 acres approximately.
Income: Before renovation the paddy yield was about 20 bags /acre; after renovation stated yield was 25 bags/acre (75 kg/bag). Two farmers present at the meeting claimed that they got a yield of 30 and 35 bags / acre. During interaction following picture emerged: Both have wells in the command and both used a better variety of seed.
Farmer Chinathan: yield/acre: 30 bags/acre, 45 bags from 1.5 acres in January 2012, due to change in variety of paddy seeds.
Farmer Manimuthu: yield/acre: 35 bags/acre, 70 bags from 2 acres in January 2012, due to change in variety of paddy seeds and application of goat manure.
From the above example it is logical to conclude that the Agriculture demonstrations and guidance to farmers on an regular basis under the DHANA program has a vast potential in helping farmers improve their livelihoods.
Name / Location of Tank : Sunnambu Kanmoi Vayalagam, S.Uttampatti, S. Pudur Block, Sivagangai District
Date of Visit : Tank, Command and Catchment Area Visited on: 20th February 2013 with President of Panchayat, Mr.Kenvetti;
Members of Vayalagam : 25, command area 20 acres; Vayalagam has been established in June 2011;
Benefiting Farmers : Direct 25 Members with 20 acres in the tank command;
Works undertaken : between July and September 2011;
Renovation Cost : Rs. 150,000/-; ABF: 120,000/-; Members: 30,000/-
This was the first tank renovation in the Block. Building social capital (Vayalagam) took time.
This tank has a sacred groove maintained by the community on the tank bunds and no tree or not even a twig or plants is removed. Also no one is allowed to walk with foot wear in the tank.
Before rehabilitation five out of 20 acres of command area was infested with weeds (Prosopis jungle). After rehabilitation all 20 acres with 15 wells in the command area were brought under cultivation in December 2011, and 25 wells belonging to farmers in the catchment area also benefitted.
Income: Crop yield (paddy) increased from 20-25 bags to 35-40 bags/acre with 76 kg/bag during the year 2011-2012, an increase of 60 to 75 % in yield. The ground water level has improved, rising up by 11 feet after the rehabilitation and that is why a large number of farmers (31), including women, direct (12) and indirect (19) beneficiaries were present at the meeting on the day. Information of Individual farmers (9) was collected from direct (6) and indirect (3) farmers for analysing increase in income by comparing with the baseline information.
Name / Location of Tank : Maniyagoundan Kanmoi, Natham Block, Dindigul District
Date of Visit : Tank and Catchment Visited on 23rd February 2013
Members of Vayalagam : 32;
Indirect Beneficiaries: 15 farmers
Benefiting Farmers : Direct 32 Members with 25 acres in the tank command;
Works undertaken : before Monsoon of 2011;
Renovation Cost :
Most members of Vayalagam have open wells in the command area; with 25 wells providing water to their coconut orchards. Members have taken to orchard farming some ten years ago owing to growing labour shortage and small land holdings. They no more produced their own rice for consumption and hence forced to purchase everything from market or through ration shops.
Prior to tank renovation work (repair of supply channel), there was no storage of water in the tank. Availability of water from the wells was rapidly declining. With the repair of supply channel and tank deepening groundwater recharge of the wells in the command area occurred and most of the wells had water level rising to the brim (overflowing wells). This year, 2012 -13, failure of rain had limited or negligible effect, since there is sufficient water in the wells. If rains fail next year, 2013-14, there will be some effect. Full tank in one year can take care of groundwater availability for two to three years.
Income: Members income has increased from र 25,000/acre to र 35,000/acre, an increase of 40%. Farmers
claim that there is visible improvement in the quality of coconut trees due to assured water supply and in
some cases the application of silt from the tank deepening. Members expect further improvement in the level
of income particularly the benefits out of silt application take time to show up.
Name / Location of Tank : Arikanmoi, Boothemangalam, Kottampatti, Madurai District
Date of Visit : Tank, Command and Catchment Area Visited on: 22nd February 2013
Members of Vayalagam : 170 members; Command area 240 acres benefiting 5 villages; Vayalagam established in July 2011
Benefiting Farmers : Direct 170 Members with 240 acres in the tank command;
Works undertaken : Deepening of tank in 2011 before the rains; 6698 cum additional storage created.
Renovation Cost : र 297,000/-; ABF: र 2 37,000/-; Members: र 59,460/-
This is a PWD tank (above 100 acres) with a bund length of 1.6 km and 6 sluices (outlets). The renovation works were undertaken between July and September 2011. Number of open wells in the command area is 22 and the major benefit of the renovation works is the groundwater recharge. In one place, with the deepening of the tank a spring has emerged. The spring water alone has provided life saving irrigation to 15 acres. Silt from tank bed (6700 cum) is applied to 30 acres of agricultural land in the command area and 50 acres in the catchment area (dry land) for improving productivity of land. Some silt was also used for strengthening downstream of the tank bund by creating a bund on the other side as well, since water from tank used to drain out in the channel feeding another tank.
First year after renovation, paddy was cultivated in 240 acres, the entire command area of the tank. Before renovation cultivation happened only in three fourth of the area (160 acres), though rainfall was good that year too. In 2012, due to failure of rains, only 30 acres was under paddy cultivation falling under sluice number 2 & 3 out of 6 sluices in the command. Cultivation was possible due to presence of wells in the area. Out of 20 irrigations required, tank water provided 10 irrigations, including 3 irrigations supported by the spring that emerged during deepening of the tank and 10 irrigations were supported by the wells.
The major observation of the evaluator Mr,Vijayasaradan consultant from Delhi was that Renovation of tanks has resulted in substantial recharge of wells in the command area of the tanks. Farmers with wells in the command area of the tank derive substantial benefits in relation to the farmers who totally depend on the tank water. There is a need for examining feasibility of a community well in the command for providing critical irrigations during failure of rains.
The significant experiences of the impact narrated in the paper reveals that the tanks and village ponds rehabilitated through the DHANA project in collaboration with the Axis Bank Foundation is the scalable model for the successful demonstration of ground water recharge and conjunctive use of ground and tank water, This experiences can be replicated to elsewhere in the country where the tanks and village ponds are significant numbers.