Living Land

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by 50 per cent especially during post-monsoon season (

rabi

season). Productivity of post-monsoon crop especially wheat

has doubled after the watershed interventions. Wheat yield

before the watershed interventions ranged from 1,500 to 1,800

Kg ha

-1

. Despite the good establishment of crop, there was high

chance of crop failure due to depleted water resources between

January and February and supplemental irrigation was not

possible due to drying wells. After implementing the watershed

programme, farmers began harvesting wheat yield ranging from

3,000 to 4,000 kg ha

-1

resulting in significant improvement in

their income and livelihood. Farmers have shifted cropping

pattern from low-income crops (chickpea and mustard) to

high-income crops (vegetables and wheat) and fodder availabil-

ity has increased significantly. Agro-forestry has strengthened

by promoting tree plantation on farm bunds and wasteland

with community participation. Improved varieties of chickpea

and wheat were introduced and crop yields increased from

by 30 to 50 per cent. In addition, various income-generating

activities such as vermicomposting, nursery raising and other

micro-enterprises helped farmers to earn additional income.

Watershed interventions enhanced average annual family

income from 50,000 INR (US$830) to 125,000 INR (US$2,080)

in a period of three to four years clearly indicating the potential

of science-led interventions to address the food security and

rural livelihood issues in drylands.

Lucheba, China

Lucheba village in Pingba County, Guizhou province in southern

China comprises a cluster of six villages with 340 households

and 1,373 people. It was selected in 2003 for integrated water-

shed interventions by ICRISAT and its partners. Before this, the

cropping systemwas largely maize, rice, soybean, sunflower and

rapeseed. There was high pressure on women as they had to

travel long distances to fetch drinking water due to water scar-

city even for domestic use. Migration levels were high as people

sought other livelihood options and men were largely engaged

for labour work in the construction sector. In 2003, based on

discussions with the village communities, two drinking water

schemes were undertaken as an entry point activity with project

funds and partial contributions from villagers. Spring water from

the hilltop was tapped and brought down to the village through a

pipeline system. Further watershed interventions such as soil and

water management, improved cropping systems, crop diversifica-

tion, integrated nutrient and pest management practices, along

with other income-generating activities such as poultry and pig

rearing, were introduced. Altogether 151 rainwater harvesting/

irrigation water storage tanks of 5 m

capacity were constructed;

nearly 133,000 trees were planted on 100 ha of wasteland, and a

4.8 km village approach road was built from the main road. Later

a 6 km-long field road was also constructed with government

support. Crop diversification was undertaken with high-value

vegetable crops. More than 260 biogas plants were set up in

village households to reduce pressure on fuelwood and protect

the forests. Micro-enterprises for women were promoted along

with forage production on bunds.

Watershed interventions completely transformed the liveli-

hood of the people. Average annual income from agriculture

has increased threefolds (from US$500 to US$1,650). The

benchmark crops (rice, corn, rape, soybean, sunflower and

kidney bean) were replaced with high-value crops like water-

melon and vegetables like tomato, pumpkin, cabbage, chilli

and eggplant using hybrid seeds and improved agronomical

practices. Lucheba now boasts two animal health centres, an

Internet-enabled farmers’ training centre and one Vegetable

Growers’ Association. The whole village currently has biogas-

powered street lighting. The migration level has been drastically

reduced and those who had migrated to cities have returned to

villages as the quality of life is better than the city with more

opportunity to work in the village itself. The village’s average

per capita income is twice that of the province.

Parasai-Sindh watershed, Bundelkhand region, central India: (left) over and base flow from a check-dam indicates increased groundwater and surface water

availability; (right) farmer cultivating vegetable as cash crop

Images: ICRISAT

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