Natems and ICRISAT’s Watershed Project
This month we are glad to report that the construction of water
harvesting structures, as part of our joint project with ICRISAT,
has started. Despite Covid adding logistical difficulties, the team
have been able to ensure the project has kept moving forward,
whilst abiding by social distancing guidelines. Thank you to
Solidaridad who, by integrating this work with our sustainable
sugarcane program, have offered vital support and insights. These
structures are also a core part of this program. And finally thank
you to the team at Neta who have been designing and implementing a
system, with ICRISAT’s team, that enables accurate reporting and
data management, and project management.
With the support of a local NGO, construction has been able to
start. Farmers have been taking the silt to be used in their fields
as a way of supporting the soil.
The ultimate goal of the program is the promotion of sustainable
agriculture practices, sustainable sugarcane cultivation and
raising the livelihoods of the smallholder communities. This will
be achieved by enhancing smallholder resilience to the effects of
climate change, such as reduced waster availability, and improving
income through reducing input costs, increasing yield and
diversifying sources of income.
The interventions are founded on reliable and extensive
scientific knowledge, given ICRISAT’s 40 year experience with the
implementation of these projects across India and globally. Having
conducted in-depth hydrological and eco-system studies, combining
data gathered on the ground and remotely through satellites, the
team have been able to ensure that the structures are located in
such a way to ensure maximum positive impact.
Natems Sustainability Newsletter
May 2020
Project
summary/objectives
• 5 year project, initially starting in
the Villages of
Kothur and
Thumkunta.
• Phase 1 covers 1820 ha and around
2,000 smallholders.
• 8 structures this month with potential
storage of 10,000
m3.
• Enhance water availability whilst
reducing usage/acre.
• Address land degradation by
improving soil
condition.
• Increase productivity and land used for
agriculture.
• Smallholder training and engagement.
• Science backed interventions and
innovation.
James Chamberlayne
Chief Sustainability Officer
[email protected]
2
The structures will form a core part of the project, which will
also include in-field interventions and farmer training, soil
analysis, intercropping and remote sensing analysis. All of which
will be intensely monitored and evaluated, with Neta supporting
ICRISAT with data management, reporting and remote sensing.
Pre-intervention land use survey: By combining geo-spatial
satellite data and in-field surveys, we have mapped the land use of
the target area. As the project progresses follow up surveys will
be conducted to analyse increase in agricultural land and to
identify impact.
Next steps
Baseline survey
Neta and ICRISAT have been working closely to design the
baseline study, which will be conducted in the coming months. The
study will give the team an in-depth understanding of the project
areas, giving greater clarity on the socio-economic status of the
communities, agricultural practices and surrounding eco-systems and
environment.
Installation of monitoring devices Loggers and measuring devices
will be installed at each of the structures to monitor the amount
of water captured. This data will be automated and will be able to
be viewed remotely through Neta’s dashboard.
Natems Sustainability Initiative – our approach
Additional news
Mention of Natem’s work with smallholder credit and the
challenges posed by Covid by the World Business Council for
Sustainable Development
https://www.wbcsd.org/Overview/News-Insights/WBCSD-insights/Impact-of-COVID-19-on-smallholder-farmers-in-India
Impact on groundwater recharge:
800mm of rainfall with intervention would amount to 115-150 mm
of GW recharge. Compared to 85 mm without intervention.
600 mm of rainfall with intervention would amount to 70 mm of GW
recharge. Compared to 29mm without.
Intercropping pilot
We have also recently completed our intercrop pilot with 30
farmers. For the pilot, ICRISAT provided 30 farmers with chickpea
seeds. The chickpeas provide farmers with an additional source of
income after 3 months and reduce fertiliser costs by adding
valuable nutrients to the soil.
We are now planning how to scale up and exploring other crops,
including vegetables.
To ensure impact is truly transformative, long-term and scalable
we are working with range of companies, universities, research
institutes and membership organisations as part of our wider
sustainability initiative. This approach ensures all our
interventions benefit from a range of perspectives and expertise
and are informed by leading scientific knowledge. Taking lead with
us on the watershed program, ICRISAT (International Crop Research
Institute for Semi-Arid Tropics) has experience working amongst a
range of different climatic conditions, soil-types and
agro-ecological regions. The technologies and innovations
demonstrated in these programs have not only helped farmers, and
the wider rural communities directly in terms of enhancing
agricultural productivity, income and livelihood, but have also
influenced various stakeholders to support with scaling up actions
and wider implementation.
Solidaridad: A global NGO specialising in the sustainable
production of a range of commodities. We have been working with
them for the past 2 years promoting sustainable sugarcane
cultivation.
