Karanjkhop concept note by BAIF

Landscape Conservation through Integrated Development Actions in Village Karnjkhop, Satara The natural resources conservation especially vegetation cover, soil and water are of prime importance in drought prone areas. The continuous depletion of vegetative cover, increased soil erosion and continuous exploitation of ground water without any effort to recharge the underground aquifers has lead the depletion of water levels. Now a day’s frequent drought like situation due to erratic rains coupled with climate change has multiple effects on ecology, water availability, biodiversity and productivity of agriculture. Along with the conservation of Natural resources, in order to enhance the productivity soil health, crop plans and water management are also important part which now even government has been addressing. Chief Minister, Maharashtra has decided to make drip irrigation mandatory for sugar cane cultivation over 3.05 lakh hectares in the state. Hence, not only conservation of resources but also needed optimal utilisation for improving agriculture productivity.

The investment in the landscape conservation through integrated development actions mainly in afforestation, soil and moisture conservation and water resources management acts as a growth engine to rain fed areas. The long-term impacts are possible through convergent actions in natural resources conservation. It has to be planned with focus on social and institutional aspects in addition to biophysical measures. It is a systematic approach to improve livelihood of people while conserving and regenerating natural resources of the landscape.

To pilot the landscape conservation measures especially through afforestation, agroforestry, agro horticulture and soil and moisture conservation, village Karnjkhop is selected. It is situated in Koregaon Tehsil of Satara district in Maharashtra, India. It is 35km away from sub-district headquarter Koregaon and 40km away from district headquarter Satara. It is also a gram panchayat.

Project Location The project area is located in Koregaon taluka of Satara district. The GPS coordinates are 17 56’ 38.3’’ N and 74 03’ 6.27’’E

Location Map

GSDA – Ground Water Map

Project Area and Land Use Out of total geographical area, 74.95% of land is under cultivation while 18.66% is under forests.

Total Area (ha) 1337.43

Forest Area (ha) 249.63

Cultivable Land (ha) 1002.46

Waste Land (ha) 49.63

Other (ha) 35.71

Population The details of households and population given in table below; House holds 633

Total Population 2950

Male

Female

SC

ST

OBC

NT

Other

1500

1450

366

0

340

95

2149

Rainfall The data of Koregaon for 14 years (2001 to 2015) shows lowest rainfall of 318.60mm in year 2003 while 1395.60mm in year 2005.

Rainfall, mm Koregaon Taluka 1500 1000 500 0 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

Rainfall data at Koregaon The above graph shows that there is extensive variation in the rainfall received over years.

Land holding classification The classification of land holing shows that 79.85% landholders are marginal. The details given in table below; Total Land holders 1434

Marginal (<1ha) 1145

Small (1 to 2ha) 205

Medium (2 to 5ha) 73

Large farmer > 5 ha 11

Landless 98

Crop Pattern and crop intensity The major crops in kharif are green peas, French beans, potato while in rabi the major crops are Jowar, Wheat and Gram. The present crop intensity is 131.04%. Out total area under irrigation, 60ha area is under sugar cane crops.

Water Resources Development The wells are the major source of irrigation. There are 170 wells and 10 bore wells. Most of these wells goes dry in summer and very limited number of wells have water for drinking water purpose.

The seasonally irrigated area is 24.73% of total cultivable land.

Major Problems 1. Degradation of land in the upper and middle reaches of watershed. Forest covers the upper part while landscapes below that have less tree cover and erosion rates are higher.

2. Erratic and uneven rainfall patterns. Agriculture is mainly dependent on rain.

3. Drinking water shortage in summer leading women in the village to fetch water from longer distances.

4. Agriculture productivity is less and forward linkages for agriculture produce are limited.

Project components 1. Soil and Moisture Conservation with Vegetation - The upper and middle catchment will be provided with biophysical treatment measures. It would mainly consist plantation of selected species to develop pastureland in common wastelands, agroforestry treatment including mechanical measures on private cultivable lands. Various gully measures such as stone or earthen gully plugs and loose boulder structures proposed to protect area from soil erosion.

2. Water Recharge measures â&#x20AC;&#x201C; In order to augment the supply and ground water levels, recharge measures by providing trench around the well with proper filter arrangements is planned to improve ground water levels.

3. Water Storage Structures- Enhancement of water storage capacities proposed by desiltation and applying silt to farms to improve the soil fertility from the existing silted earthen dams and structures will be undertaken. Secondly, on the feasible locations check dams are proposed. In order to create water storages and use the harvested water, lined ponds with drip irrigation is also planned on demonstration basis.

4. Sustainable Agriculture â&#x20AC;&#x201C; To enhance the agriculture productivity to benefit on long-term basis, management of lands with respect to its capabilities and soil health are to be advised to the farmers. Such soil health based advisories will be shared with farmers to make them aware about fertility of their lands and apply the agriculture practices accordingly. Apart from this to cope the challenges of climate change, climate resilient crops will be promoted based on the local knowledge about the crops and varieties. To improve the fodder availability for livestock, fodder plots of Napier grass will be demonstrated.

5. Livelihood â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Apart from the agriculture-based livelihood, it is necessary to address the needs of landless families who are ultimately dependent on the village ecosystem for livelihood. Hence it is planned support the landless families through engaging in dairy based activities, training in Artificial Insemination to local youths, involving them in forward linkages especially in market linkages and building their skills to make them capable of earning their livelihood on sustainable basis.

6. Demonstration of Solar Energy based water lift – The small and marginal farmers due smallholdings and irregular electric supply have to face problems in irrigating their fields.

Small and Marginal farmers forming a group 2 to 3 farmers will be demonstrated with solar energy pump sets.

7. Capacity Building – To undertake the development actions effectively community groups like SHGs, Volunteers, farmer groups and local youths will be provided necessary training.

Approach to achieve sustainable development The approach is of integrated community development on the principle natural resources conservation with emphasis on development of vegetation cover with soil and moisture conservation and reducing the shortage of drinking water. 

Involvement of community for planning, implementation and in post project management.



Community Group and family approach for development solutions with local and scientific knowledge



Multidisciplinary actions for integrated community development for sustainable functioning and mobilizing community to contribute in the development actions to build their long-term action plan.



Involvement of locals in monitoring for transparency.



Mobilize and organize community for forward linkages Pasture Management Group for common wastelands Farmers Groups, Users Groups, Land Less groups, SHGs and Market Facilitation Group

Gram Panchayat, Karanjkhop

BAIF Institute of Sustainable Livelihoods Development (BISLD)

BAIF’s Experience BAIF Institute of Sustainable Livelihood Development (BISLD) has been completing 50 years of its journey in rural development this year. BAIF has watershed based livelihood project implemented in Randullabad adjacent to Karanjkhop in Satara, which is a very successful demonstration. BAIF has similar experience gained while working in other regions in India and learnings so far will be further adapted and packaged to devise the strategy for dealing with the present situation of droughts leading to distress in Karanjkhop village.

Project period – Three years

Expected Outcomes 1. The selected landscape of 700ha will have increase of 30 to 40% in vegetation cover 2. Increase of water levels by 1.0 meter 3. Agriculture productivity is improved further by 20% and farmers have forward linkages established 4. Increase in crop intensity to 140 to 150% from existing 131%.

Budget Sr. No A 1 2 3

B 1 3 4 5

C

D E F G

Name of activity Natural Resources Management Soil and Moisture Conservation including plantation Recharge of low discharge wells Water Storage Structures (Check dams, repair of existing Earthen Nalla Bunds, Lined ponds and farm ponds ) Subtotal A Sustainable Agriculture Soil Sample testing and Soil Health Advisories to farmers Demonstration of climate resilient crops (multicrop model) Promotion of dry land horticulture Promotion of fodder crops Subtotal B Support for Landless families (livelihood)- Market linkages, skill building, dairy related activities, Training in AI, etc Demonstration of Solar based lifting for small and marginal farmers Impact Documentation Capacity building Subtotal C to E Project Management Total A+B+C+D+E+F Techno management and Administrative Overheads 10% of activity costs Grand Total Cost of Project

Units proposed

Unit rate (Rs.)

700

Outlay (Rs.) Year1

Year2

Year3

Total

8500

1275000

2975000

1700000

5950000

50

25000

250000

500000

500000

1250000

8

500000

1000000

2000000

1000000

4000000

2525000

5475000

3200000

11200000

250

500

125000

125000

100

3000

60000

120000

120000

300000

20 50

5000 500

80000 12500 277500

20000 12500 152500

0 120000

100000 25000 550000

25

25000

125000

250000

250000

625000

2

350000

350000

350000

0

700000

1 3

500000 100000 975000

200000 100000 775000 536625

200000 100000 900000 979125

100000 100000 450000 565500

500000 300000 2125000 2081250

357750

652750

377000

1387500

4271875

7959375

4612500

16843750