Keralli is a small village located in remote area of Shirahatti block of Gadag district. Depletion of natural resources like land and water is the root cause for the poverty of the people of Keralli village. Migration to distant places in search of livelihood was rampant in the village.
Demo-geographical features of Keralli village : There are 137 families in the village comprising of 470 male and 409 female. Average family size is 6.41. There are 303 male literate and 182 female literates. Average land holding is 2.49 ha. with the average family income of Rs. 17,398/- per annum. Small and marginal farmers contribute to 50 percent of the households.
Agricultural Scenario : Total cultivable land in the village is 407 ha., mainly cultivated under dry land. The agricultural land has the slope varying from 2.5 30 percent thus marking it difficult to enhance the agricultural productivity. Sesamum, millets, Jowar, Groundnut and Sunflower are the major crops grown. Soils are having shallow rooting depth, high content of gravel in the sub soil, prone for moderate to severe erosion with compact and hard gravelly clay sub soil that restricts downward movement of water resulting in high run-off and severe soil erosion. Out of 137 families, 120 families live below poverty line as their livelihood support systems are insufficient and operating inefficiently.
In this back drop, KVK and its host Institution facilitated NABARD assisted Watershed Development Programme since 2002-03 and several interventions were made like awareness and training programmes, capacity building of the watershed community and village watershed committee in the initial phase. Further, various water harvesting measures were taken-up to tackle the problems of crop productivity, ground water recharge and migration. The following table shows the interventions made for harvesting the rain water in the watershed area through various measures.
Table 5 : Rain Water Harvesting Measures for Increasing Crop Productivity and Ground Water Recharge
| Sl.No | RWH Measures / Activities | Area / No. |
| (i) | Farm Bunding | 416 ha |
| (ii) | Waste weirs | 279 Nos. |
| (iii) | Farm Ponds | 37 Nos. |
| (iv) | Horticulture Plants planted | 4680 Nos. |
| (v) | Forest Plants planted | 3005 Nos. |
| (vi) | Gliricidia Cuttings planted – Green Manure Crops | 19170 Nos. |
| (vii) | Grass Slips planted | 60395 Nos. |
| (viii) | CCT (Continuous Contour Trenches) | 20 ha. |
| (ix) | WAT (Water Absorption Trench) | 28.56 cum |
| (x) | Boulder Bunds | 3 ha. |
| (xi) | MPT (Mini Percolation Tank) | 2 Nos. |
| (xii) | Bore well Recharge Pits | 10 Nos. |
OUTCOME AND IMPACT OF INTERVENTIONS
GROUND WATER RECHARGING
Within a year after, the rain water harvesting measures and activities were taken up during the year 2003-04, the ground water recharging was taking place in the next mansoon season as the existing ten borewells started yielding more water. Observing this, 3 new borewells were dug during the year 2004-05.
The numbers slowly increased year by year and during 2007-08, there were nearly 62 borewells. Along with this, more than 15 open wells were once again filled up with water after 15 years.
One bore well started yielding water without pumping, thus indicating increased ground water availability in the treated area. All this happened due to works carried out such as farm bunding, farm ponds, CCT, WAT, MPTs and bore well recharging pits.
Table 6 : Increasing Number Of Bore Wells Over The Years Irrigating The Fields Perennially
| Year | Cumulative number of bore wells | Cumulative increased area under perennial irrigation (Ha.) |
| 2003-04 | 10 | 5.44 |
| 2004-05 | 13 | 7.50 |
| 2005-06 | 21 | 20.00 |
| 2006-07 | 42 | 63.00 |
| 2007-08 | 62 | 89.50 |
Impact of watershed on water
 |
 |
15 open wells filled up with water after 15 years |
Bore well yielding water without pumping |
EFFECT OF GROUND WATER RECHARGING ON LAND USE PATTERN
Due to enhanced irrigation potential as a result of improved ground water status, there is significant shift in the total cropped area.The uncultivable waste land has been converted in to cultivation.
Table 7 : Land Use Pattern Before And After Intervention
| Sl. No. | Particulars | Baseline data (2002-03) |
After Intervention (Area in ha) |
|---|---|---|---|
| (i) | Total cropped area | 407.4 | 455.41 |
| (ii) | Seasonally irrigated area | 34.51 | 15.11 |
| (ii) | Perennially irrigated area | 5.44 | 89.50 |
| (iv) | Fallow area | 78.52 | 30.51 |
EFFECT OF GROUND WATER RECHARGING ON CROPPING PATTERN
Perusal of the table-8 shows that there has been significant shift in the cropping pattern. Farmers have shifted from Cereals/Millet based cropping system to commercial crops like Maize, Groundnut, Sunflower and BT Cotton.
Table –9 reveals that there is decrease in area under food crops. During 2007-08 about 45 percent of the total area was covered under Maize under irrigated condition. Maize followed by Groundnut or Sunflower is the major cropping pattern by the farmers. Apart from this, few farmers have started Banana plantations, seed production of vegetable crops, cultivation of gherkins and mango.
Table 8 : Change In Cropping Pattern Due To Improved Ground Water Status
| Season | Crop | Area (ha) |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Kharif | Sesamum | 36.46 | 4.37 |
| Little Millet | 40.32 | 5.63 | |
| Foxtail Millet | 58.17 | 7.85 | |
| Horse gram | 30.3 | 6.78 | |
| Groundnut (Bunch) | 67.55 | 54.88 | |
| Groundnut (Spreading) | 35.65 | 16.28 | |
| Hybrid Jowar | 68.48 | 29.60 | |
| Maize | 00 | 160.80 | |
| B.T. Cotton | 00 | 15.60 | |
| Sunflower | 00 | 26.08 | |
| Rabi | Jowar | 25.26 | 23.18 |
| Sunflower | 11.34 | 29.42 | |
| Summer | Groundnut | 23.84 | 43.53 |
| Sunflower | 10.03 | 28.41 | |
| Horticulture crops | |||
| Banana | 00.00 | 3.00 | |
| Mango + Groundnut (SP) | 00.00 | 12.00 | |
| Sapota + Groundnut (SP) | 0.00 | 10.00 | |
| Total | 407.4 | 455.41 | |
Change in the cropping pattern before and after intervention
EFFECT OF GROUND WATER RECHARGING ON MIGRATION
Before interventions, there was very high migration of villagers to distant places like Mangalore, Goa, Kodagu, Bangalore etc. which affected the children most as they could not continue their education.
There was as many as 160 migrants in the base year of KVK interventions (2003-04) and this has come down drastically within 5 years.
This was made possible because of increased irrigation facility which ensured the crop yields and income security.
Table 9 : Reduction In Migration Due To Increased Employment Opportunity
| Year | No. of migrants | Mandays employment available |
|---|---|---|
| 2003-04 | 160 | 65-70 |
| 2004-05 | 125 | 75-85 |
| 2005-06 | 100 | 130-190 |
| 2006-07 | 70 | 180-200 |
| 2007-08 | 25 | 225-240 |
INTERVENTIONS FOR EMPOWERMENT OF LABOUR FOLK
Along with rain water harvesting measures, the social engineering work in respect to organization of rural landless agricultural laborers was also taken up.3 men Self Help Groups (SHGs) and 5 women Self Help Groups were organized covering 104 families their saving is to the tune of Rs. 3.60 lakhs.
Under the Watershed Development Project, a Revolving Fund of Rs. 6.00 lakhs was provided to SHGs to avail loans to start various income generating activities. The following table gives the details.
Table 10 : Loan Availed By SHG Members For Various Activities
| Sl.No | Particulars | No. of members | Loan Amount (Rs.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| i | Purchase of dairy animals | 8 | 80000.00 |
| ii | Sheep and Goat rearing | 52 | 300000.00 |
| iii | Bangle Business | 1 | 3000.00 |
| iv | Irrigation purpose | 7 | 70000.00 |
| v | Construction of house | 4 | 40000.00 |
| vi | Carpentary | 1 | 5000.00 |
| vii | Vermicompost | 5 | 10000.00 |
| viii | Others | 13 | 91000.00 |
| Total | 91 | 599000.00 |
Seasonal Employment Status of Farmwomen Before and After Intervention
Before KVK intervention, underemployment is one of the important problem of farmwomen of Keralli village.
The daily wages depended upon the rains received during the seasons on an average women got employment for 4 to 6 months in an year and migration of whole family to other cities was common in more than 60 percent families.
In 2003, through Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) tools the analysis was made with respect to time spent by farmwomen in farm & home activities and also the employment status in three different seasons.
Again in 2008, the analysis was made to study the impact of rain water harvesting measures on employment status of farmwomen.
The above graph clearly indicates the increased employment opportunities in all three seasons (250-260 days in any year) as a result of (i) Improved ground water status that resulted in increased area under irrigation (ii) Less failure of crops and increased productivity and (iii) Adopting various additional income generation activities such as Dairy, Sheep and Goat Rearing, Vermicomposting etc.
INCOME SECURITY TO ALL FAMILIES
The rainwater harvesting measures taken up in Keralli village resulted in increase of ground water availability. This started chain reaction of economic development. Firstly, the water in existing borewells and open wells increased and later the number of borewells got increased. As a result, the area under perennial irrigation increased significantly.This facilitated land less people to get employment throughout the year. Additionally, the crop productivity increased to considerable extent making small, marginal, medium and big farmer to realize the secured income. Further, the loan provided to land less agricultural laborers’ families resulted in adoption of various multiple income generating activities. As a result, there is considerable shift in the income of different category of households and the same is depicted below.
Table – 11 : Enhanced Income Level Of Different Category of Families InKeralli Village
| Household Category | Total Nos. |
Average income in 2002-03 | Average income in 2007-08 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Landless | 12 | 7125 | 25000-30000 |
Marginal farmers (0 - 1 ha) |
9 | 13511 | 30000-40000 |
Small farmers (1 - 2 ha) |
51 | 13273 | 40000-50000 |
Semi-medium (2 – 4 ha) |
30 | 12903 | 50000-60000 |
Medium (4–8 ha) |
17 | 33617 | 60000-75000 |
Big farmers |
12 | 45083 | 80000-100000s |
Income status of House Holds
CONCLUSION
Rain water harvesting interventions have a major impact in creating sustainable livelihoods for both farmers as well as to agricultural laborers through improved ground water status and enhanced crop productivity.
It also shows as to how the bio-physical and social engineering interventions can bring the transformation in the economic development of the villages.
