An Analytical Study of Agro-Ecological Bases of Contemporary Water Management Innovations in Sustainable Agriculture”
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Date
2018
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DIVISION OF AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION ICAR-INDIAN AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE NEW DELH
Abstract
Rain water harvesting, storing, saving and sharing by farmers of dryland agroecosystem assume great significance in surviving water crisis that is looming large in arid and
semiarid regions of India. Innovations related to judicious use of scarce water resources were
evolved by farmers and refined by few non-formal researchers and NGOs activists and these
are termed ‘contemporary water management innovations’ which are now being practiced by
majority of farmers in drylands. These new non-formal innovations needed to be studied for
their agro-ecological bases of contemporary water management innovations and their adoption.
This study was conducted in eight villages of three mandals in Ananthapur district of
Andhra Pradesh. The villages were selected purposively because of the presence of functional
water sharing groups. A sample of 120 farmers were selected randomly from these villages.
Focused group discussions, personal interviews, case study and Delphi technique were used for
data collection and analysis. A sample of 30 mixed group of scientists, NGOs activists and
other experts were sought to enlist constraints and suggestions in diffusing these contemporary
water management innovations in similar agro-ecological conditions. The major findings are:
Among the sample of the farmer respondents, only 20 for users owned bore wells and shared
with 100 farmers who did not own any bore wells. Water sharing has been accepted and farmers
have formed and managing the water sharing institutions in villages.
A critical analysis of causes of agro-ecological crisis was delineated through focused
group discussion, personal interview and factor analysis. Among the causes related to erratic
rainfall, early withdrawal of monsoons, lack of contingency crop-water planning, and long dry
spells leading to drought were most important. Among the causes related to depleting ground
water resources, neglect of pro-active intervention, over exploitation of ground water resources
without any replenishment, soil moisture stress due to lack of field ponds were most important.
A case study analysis revealed the way the water sharing group of farmers were able
to grow crops through the use of social regulatory measures in water sharing groups, microirrigation and conservation agronomic practices and were able to enhance their incomes.
All the farmers shared the agro-ecological principles and rationale behind the
community participation and community management of common property resources of rain
water, through rain water harvesting, saving, sharing and using judiciously through microirrigation systems. All the farmers have comprehensively understood the agro-ecology behind
hydrological cycle of water harvesting and water saving for future contingencies. As the
farmers have had undergone great stress periods during times of agro-ecological crisis, they
were all appreciating the value of scarce water resources for their livelihood security.
Constraints in the way of diffusing CWMI in similar agro-ecosystem were found to be
community mobilization and convincing farmers for group actions. Suggestions given for
diffusing CWMI in similar agro-ecological conditions included convergence of actions from
all stakeholders, government and non-government agencies and policy advocacy strategies for
promoting water harvesting and sharing among dryland farmers.
The study concluded that contemporary water management innovations were well
accepted and integrated into the culture of the dry land farmers as they comprehensively
understood the agro-ecological bases for their survival and sustenance in dry land area.
Description
t-9884
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