Bundelkhand Initiatives for Water Agriculture and Livelihood (BIWAL)

Bundelkhand comprises of 14 contiguous districts viz. Jhansi, Lalitpur, Jalaun, Hamirpur, Banda, Mahoba and Chitrakoot in Uttar Pradesh and Sagar, Chhattarpur, Tikamgarh, Niwari[1], Panna, Damoh and Datia in Madhya Pradesh. Undulating topography coupled with flat lands in the central part require context specific solutions to the challenged population faces. This region is regarded amongst the more backward regions in central India, and in some sectors it has the lowest indicators in the country.

Traditional water bodies in the nature of tanks in fact are an outstanding feature, which characterizes the Bundelkhand landscape. In the first category are tanks where surface flow of rain water in natural streams and across an undulating topography is impounded by constructing bunds to store water for household purposes and for the cattle. Until recently, in times of acute scarcity these were used as source for drinking water. A second category is of tanks, also very large in numbers, which in addition to serving the purposes served by the first category were designed to provide irrigation to farms, downstream of the bund. Despite lack of maintenance and all-round apathy, all tanks, by and large continue to serve the important purpose of harvesting water for use by the people on a reduced scale. They continue to have great relevance for the local communities. These tanks are in urgent need of repair and restoration. If this is achieved a historic legacy and a large number of rural community assets would have been preserved. By the strategy described below, it would have restored community participation and ownership of the tanks and helped generate livelihoods through the repair works and add to the availability of water for household consumption and agriculture. 

The people in Bundelkhand region are predominantly engaged in agriculture and the activities allied to it like farm labour, and animal husbandry in dairying, goat rearing and fisheries. Employment in agriculture, as cultivators and agriculture labour, sustains an overwhelming portion of the population. While close to 70 percent workers engage in agriculture and related activities, the figure at the national level was 50 percent in 2011.

BIWAL is designed to provide multi-faceted benefits to a host of beneficiaries. The local communities directly and indirectly associated with the selected tanks, including the Gram Panchayats, are the project's key stakeholders.

It is a large undertaking; therefore, BIWAL, as an initiative, calls for the support of multiple organizations and institutions. These tanks are spread across districts of a region that is divided between two states, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. Therefore, SRIJAN has fostered partnerships with other Civil society organizations like the Centre for Advance Research and Development (CARD) HARITIKA, Arunodaya Sansthan, Yuva Koushal Vikash Mandal, Akhil Bhartiya Samaj Sewa Sansthan which have their presence in Bundelkhand region.

Equipping and engaging the relevant platform of Gram Sabha and PRIs, which has been vested with the constitutional status as the supreme authority at the village level, with more pronounced roles and purpose, is an important strategy of the project, leading to participatory decision-making and long-term sustainability. BIWAL envisions that the Tank Management Committees (TMC), will work in close coordination with these village level democratic institutions. Strengthening the Tank Management Committees (TMC), is an important strategy to empower the user communities with decision-making responsibilities. This will be done by providing access to ready-to-use information of water available and its sparing use, providing appropriate skills on water budgeting, creating an enabling environment and devolving financial management responsibilities.

Program Strategy

Integrated Natural Resource Management

To address climate change and enable the community to adapt to change. We are working closely with the local community to create water potential by rejuvenating water bodies and natural streams and promoting the adoption of water-use efficiency technologies such as solar-based irrigation systems, sprinklers, and drip systems. We are also improving land degradation through area treatment. We are building the capacity of community cadres and local communities through knowledge transfer and well-monitoring to promote better water literacy. This helps to ensure better crop planning and collective action towards driving water security in the villages. 

Bio-Diversity

To promote and conserve local bio-diversity and sensitize the community towards its surroundings. We are promoting Tapovan (community forest) of local native plants in common lands by engaging the community, gram panchayat and regional administration and promoting bund plantation on individual farm-lands.

Climate-Smart Agriculture

Promoting Climate-Smart Agriculture for Better Soil Health and Climate Resilience. To maintain soil fertility, SRIJAN promotes the application of biostimulants and the adoption of improved agricultural practices through setting up field demonstrations in farmers’ fields, conducting farmers' training and organizing field days. In this, trained community cadres help to orient the community to switch to natural farming methods and the use of local seeds. Women are playing a key role in this transformation by promoting a network of bio-resource centres and seed banks. At the same time, a group of progressive farmers adopted climate-smart agricultural practices. This helps in stabilizing the agriculture within the farming community.

Farm-Based Livelihoods

To hedge the ill effects of climate change and diversify the income of small farmers, year-round livelihood engagement of the farmers is therefore essential after ensuring water availability. Communities' planned interventions, such as developing nano-orchards, multi-layer farming, and open vegetable cultivation in individual farms, help them sustain their livelihoods.

Strengthening Local Institutions and Women

SRIJAN facilitates the formation of community institutions, particularly for women. Further, these community institutions are federated into federation and farmer-producer organizations. These members meet regularly to monitor, plan, and act on water security and climate-resilient agriculture—local groups liaison with local administration for mobilizing government schemes. Women have been its key drivers. With support from the program staff and community cadres, the community institutions are working towards transforming rural livelihoods in the region.

Value Chain & Non-Timber Forest Produce

SRIJAN provides handholding support to farmer-producer organisations in establishing value chains and aggregating relevant commodities through building knowledge, promoting robust rural infrastructure, and establishing credit linkages with financial institutions.

Goals

The far-reaching benefits of the programme will be seen in the following areas.

1.   Water governance and its management through community engagement

2.   Building social capital in terms of a local cadre specializing in para-hydrological skills and working on both supply—and demand-side management.

3.   Making community resilient to climate change, putting drought-proofing systems and processes at place and resetting cropping systems of rain fed areas

4.     Improving Agriculture productivity and prevent Land degradation through sustainable land management