Communication product
Communication products developed to present the case to the target audience. These may be videos, presentations, documents or other relevant formats.
CASE DETAILS
STATEMENT
If the community in drought prone districts of Rajasthan adopts traditional means of water conservation and moisture retention, then agricultural produce will improve quantitatively and qualitatively, thereby contributing to enhanced water, food and nutrition security.
TARGET AUDIENCE
Farmers in the Thar Desert.
TARGET AUDIENCE'S PRIORITIES AND VALUES
Farmers achieve enhanced agricultural production through traditional methods of water conservation and moisture retention.
FRAMING OF THE ARGUMENT
The farmers and the community at large in this region are largely dependent on rainfall for their farming. The quantum and quality of agricultural production is dependent on the amount of water and moisture available in the farmlands. The hostile and arid conditions of this region impede the certainty of agricultural production. Through this case, the value of an integrated community-led drought management strategy will be demonstrated whereby farmers will be nudged to shift from rainfall dependent to rainwater harvesting techniques. The case will draw comparisons on key indicators including quantum of agricultural produce that is dependent on rainfall and enhanced agricultural production after switching to traditional means of rainwater harvesting and moisture retention. Comparisons with respect to cost of maintenance, cost of production, quantum and quality of agricultural produce will be demonstrated. A comparative analysis for this purpose will be drawn using case studies, testimonials, success stories of studies conducted previously by GRAVIS as well as those emerging from field visits conducted as part of developing this evidence-based case.
STRATEGY
The case deploys comparative analysis to argue for the changes mentioned above. The evidence that has been proposed to prove/match the statements is a comparative analysis of the situation before and after the adoption of traditional methods of water conservation and moisture retention. The indicators proposed to measure the change and thereby contribute to evidence, for the first component of the statement, include:
- nature of soil before and after use of traditional methods;
- quantum of water stored and available for production purposes;
- time invested by beneficiaries to source water from the rain water harvesting structures to the farm lands and arid horticulture units;
- quantum of crop produced before and after the use of traditional methods;
- diversity of crops produced before and after the use of traditional methods.
CALLS TO ACTION
Communities can demand/seek (from village-based committees constituted by GRAVIS) traditional water conservation and moisture retention structures and techniques to be deployed in their farms so that farmlands have access to a sustained source of water. This, in turn, will contribute to enhanced agricultural production.
CLAIMS AND EVIDENCE
This section contains each claim made by the case, along with the evidence provided to prove that claim. Evidence may be first or second hand, include any combination of qualitative and quantitative data, and can come from a variety of sources.
A previous study was conducted on women leadership and their role in drought mitigation and gaining economic benefits. Through simple Rainwater Harvesting (RWH) intervention like Khadin, the crop produce is mostly 1.5 to 2.0 times after using technologies of capturing rainwater for farming activity. Women and girls play an active role in agriculture and horticulture activities.
In a previous study conducted on climate resilient rainwater harvesting and farming impacting lives of community, it is found that after using traditional methods of rainwater harvesting families are able to harvest fruits like Ber (desert plum), Pomegranate, Gunda (citrus fruit) and crops like pearl millet and cluster beans. The reference is taken from a study conducted on climate change adaptation.
Adapting to Change: Understanding the experience of creating climate resilient rainwater harvesting and farming.
Stories of women and farmers: Page 16 – 21.
Many women like Santu Devi are harvesting fruits from their horticulture unit after adopting rainwater harvesting.
OTHER DETAILS
Photos
Revantilal is a farmer doing rain-fed farming in the region. He received gain in his crops after water conservation in his farmland.
Birju is a farmer and recipient of Khadin (earthen dyke). She is able to grow millet, pulses, cluster beans just by conserving rain at farm. Her crop production is increased by 50% after having Khadin.
Mena is owner of an Arid Horticulture Unit and passionate about her orchard. She is receiving pomegranate and plum (ber) from her garden. Her family is enjoying fruits that were not possible for them to have earlier.
Shushila is a recipient of rainwater harvesting tank. The tank has insured water security for the family and this has reduced the expenditure of procuring water from outside and leading a stress free life.
Leading organisation
