Watersheds with a Holistic Approach
Integrating on-farm and non-farm activities, soil and water conservation initiatives, diversification, identifying the highest producing crop varieties, training for on-farm management, processing and marketing linkages applied successfully in Telangana (India), Ethiopia, and China.
Interventions
- Integrating on-farm and non-farm activities, soil and water conservation initiatives, diversification, identifying the highest producing crop varieties, training for on-farm management, processing and marketing linkages applied successfully in Telangana (India) Ethiopia, China, Mali and Thailand.
Impacts
Kothapally watershed, Telangana, India
- Water available all year long due to 5-8 times increased storage capacity.
- Recharged groundwater enables farmers to grow more crops per year.
- Better quality livestock feed & water increases milk output (1300 L/day); sale of dairy products adds to income.
- Improved variety of pigeonpea production sees up to 900 kg/ha increase.
- Maize production rises by up to 2.5 times with improved hybrid seeds.
- Net farmer income rises by US$ 940-2708 per ha.
- 37 recharge wells functional.
- 10 women self-help groups take up vermicomposting.
See Kothapally Timeline
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A proof of concept that lead to more sustainable natural resource management (NRM): Community-based watershed management has led to better soil and water conservation, increased farm productivity and better livelihoods. Detailed impact figures in India (Kothapally watershed model inspired nationwide India’s rural water management policies); Ethiopia and China are represented in the following infographic. This work is mapped to the CGIAR Water, Lands and Ecosystems (WLE) program.
A Pakistani woman carries drinking water on her head. Photograph: Asif Hassan/AFP/Getty Images
Lucheba watershed, China
- Farmers get better yields and returns with harvested rainwater.
- Cash crops boost annual income from \3,000 (US$ 500) to \10,000 (US$ 1,650); almost 192% increase.
- Farm household income rises by 32%.
- Irrigated land increases by 94%.
- Crop yields increase by 6-19%.
- Migrated residents return home.
Read more: http://goo.gl/FHL9yR
Yewol watershed, Ethiopia
- Terracing halts soil erosion: Irrigated land downstream increased from 200-940 hectares.
- Downstream water bodies and groundwater recharged.
- Greater groundwater access to communities.
- Women spared the drudgery of fetching water from afar.
- Irrigated land increases from 81 to 380 hectare.
- Diverse crops (fruit, chickpea, fodder grasses) help farmers financially and nutritionally; also improve soil quality.
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