Indo German Watershed Development Programme – Malvi

Background

MSS operates in the tribal regions of the Udaipur District, Rajasthan State, India among the remote and nearly inaccessible rural villages of the Aravali Hills. The project area Malvi Watershed is mainly tribal dominated with a few families from other caste group. Community in this watershed suffers from high run-off. The primary source of livelihood for the tribal of this area is agriculture. But as a result of adverse environmental imbalance due to breakdown of traditional village, they are becoming more and more vulnerable. Common lands, revenue land and private lands have equally degraded over the years and the first ones to be affected are those who are greatly dependent on natural resources for fodder, fuel wood, water, timber needs and more significantly as a result of this agricultural fields have suffered and productions have gone down over the years. This can happen only when their capacity is built and enhanced to take the job in their own hands.

Geographical area

The total area under the proposed micro watershed no 18, 19, 20 of macro watershed no.2 is 1424 Ha (Demarcated in copy of toposheet & watershed atlas map). The area consists of hillocks & undulated lands. The watershed is drained by a small stream (Moran Nadi) which is tributary of Mahi River.

Beneficiaries

A total of 788 household’s majority Scheduled Tribe (ST) in the watershed area are included CBP area.

Time Period

2009 to 2014

Supporting Agency

The project “Malvi Watershed (CBP) Sangwara Block of Dungarpur District” under IGWDP is supported by KFW, NABARD.

Objective

The Objective of the programme is to develop micro watersheds to stabilise agricultural production and improve pasture lands.

Strategies

  • While a micro-watershed is identified by its physical characteristics, it is the peoples’ commitment that decides for inclusion or otherwise in the programme. It is in effect a “self-selection” process.
  • People are asked to demonstrate their willingness/eagerness to undertake the watershed project by visiting nearby watershed for experience / exposure and agreeing to contribute 4 days of shramdan (voluntary labour) initially without any support from the programme.
  • Villagers agree to bring down the cattle population within the carrying capacity of the land, ban free grazing and tree felling and eschewing crops which require more amount of irrigation.
  • A peoples’ organisation called “Village Watershed Committee” (VWC) with adequate representation of women is formed for planning, implementing and eventual maintenance of the treatment measures / structures. VWC is responsible to Gram Sabha or entire village community.
  • Village community is asked to partner the process of watershed development through its contribution of one-day-a-week free labour contribution (shramdan of nearly 16% of project measures). Of course, as an incentive for it’s participation, the programme envisages ploughing back 50% of free labour contribution to the maintenance funds of VWC.
  • The treatment measures follow a “ridge to valley approach”. The “net-planning” approach adopted demands survey of each of the plots in the watershed and suggests appropriate technical measures for conservation and improvement in consultation with the farmer and his family.
  • Efforts are made to encourage VWC to think of ways and means to involve the landless in project activities and design appropriate systems of benefits arising from common property resources.
  • The women in the community, besides being represented in the VWC, are encouraged to form SHGs and undertake project related activities like raising a nursery, kitchen gardens, in addition to inculcating the habit of thrift and funds management / rotation of funds amongst themselves. Besides, women promotion/development activities are undertaken from a “Women’s development Fund” set up by earmarking 5% of project measures.

Activities

  • Demonstration and Trainings
  1. Checking Soil erosion
  2. Increasing crop productivity
  3. Community Development Work
  4. Training
  • Drainage line Treatment

Outcomes

* Increased productivity of land with improved chances of crop assurance

* Potential for production enhancement generated

* Better Soil Moisture Retention (SMR)

* Community is organized as Village Watershed Committee and SHGs

* Sustainable pasture land for livestock

* Increased literacy rate of the CBP area