Drought Mitigation in Thar

A

Progress Report

Of

Drought Mitigation in Thar through Disseminating, Learning, Replication and Innovation Project

(DMTDLRI)

Annual Report 2012 - 13

Prepared By

Dhara Sansthan, Barmer

Submitted To

Sir Dorabji Tata Trust & Allied Trusts,

North India Office, 220, Hans Bhawan,

1, Bahadur Shah Zafer Marg,New Delhi-110 002

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Project overview:

With the aim of disseminating drought mitigation techniques and learning at grass-root level,

encouraging replication and creating drought proofing through water, food and fodder security

the project has been implemented in 20 villages of Western Rajasthan. The project being

implemented by different partner organization of different districts gives a much better

opportunity for replication and dissemination of drought mitigation techniques. In order to

have maximum use of natural resources, rain water harvesting techniques is adopted in the

project which is one of the most satisfying activities to mitigate drought problems.

Dry land agriculture farming systems and fodder management practices is aimed to ensure

food and fodder security. Capacity building of farmers with appropriate marketing linkages

and bringing women in the fore-front is an integral part of the project. During the project

phase from April to August near about 15 families have been benefitted by water security

intervention with the construction of 10 Taankas and sixty two families have been benefitted

with food & fodder security activity due to construction of 5 Khadin.

Further the capacity building trainings to Farmers’ Association and Self Help Groups lead

skill enhancement and developing leadership qualities. 60 new leaders have been developed as

the office bearers of Farmers’ Association and mobilizing the community in adapting

innovative approaches for agriculture and livestock development.

Table below shows the progress achieved at a glance:

Progress at a Glance

Type of Structure Constructed to date Target for the year 2012/2013

Water Security

Taanka 10 10

Khadin 5 10

Horticulture Unit Development

10 10

Community Empowerment

SHG Training 5 5

Farmers Training 16 20

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Background information

Western Rajasthan geographically falls in the arid region of India with of scanty rainfall in the

area (200 to 300 mm). Out of the population of 16 Lac people (Barmer District Population),

the rural population of the area is largely dependent on rain fed agriculture for its livelihood.

But due to insufficient rainfall only agriculture does not support the community during

drought condition so they depend on livestock and labour to earn their living and hence put

their footsteps back in adopting agriculture and farming systems. In addition to make the

situation more extreme the sparse rainfall and rising population of livestock has resulted in

overgrazing of pasture lands and lack thus fodder for the animals.

Dhara Sansthan is a not for profit organization working in Western Rajasthan mainly in

Barmer and Jalore district since 1995. Dhara has the prior experience in Tanka construction as

we have already build up more than 50 tankas in Shiv block of Barmer district.

Draught Mitigation project is implemented by Dhara Sansthan with the support from Gravis

(Gramin Vikas Vigyan Samiti) in the month of April 2012/13. The first month was planning

phase and also the selection phase, in this month duration we did the recruitment process of

the field staff and also our team decided on the selection of villages (Five villages). Dungar

singh has been appointed as a field staff and the identified villages were Ati, Balera, Juna

Patrasar, Sujan Nagar, and Indara.

Criteria for selecting the villages were where the resources will be available like water (for

horticulture and Tanka), Monitoring will be easier for us and also where we can get the

required beneficiaries.

We have identified and selected the five village by keeping in mind some of the factors like,

availability of water, distance from our head office (If it is nearby our office then it will be

easier for us to monitor the program), Availability of other resource material like Stones, sand

etc.

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Details of villages being covered by Dhara Sansthan:-

S.No Name of the Villages Panchayat Samiti Distance From Barmer

1 Balera Barmer 21 KM

2 Sujan Nagar Barmer 20 KM 3 Ati Barmer 17 KM

4 Indara Barmer 18 KM 5 Juna Patrasar Barmer 24 KM

Total 5 Villages

Activities done under DMT

1. Construction of Taanka:

During this reporting period selection of Taanka beneficiary was done with the help of

Farmers club in the villages. All the selection was done on the basis of family income,

livelihood status of the family, their agricultural land holding, level of interest and ownership.

After the selection during the meeting our field supervisor also verified the beneficiary to

ensure that the beneficiary selected is needy and poor and fulfills the criteria to be selected.

After the visit of supervisor technical expert also visited the area where the Taanka has to be

made and gave technical guidance on feasibility of location according to the design of Taanka.

During this reporting period 10 Taankas have been completed, 2 taankas in each of the

working villages.

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During the rainy season all the Taanka gets fully filled with water and now the beneficiary

uses water for domestic purpose. The saved can also be utilized for livestock keeping.

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Table below shows the construction of Taanka in the targeted villages:

S.No Village Name District Name

Completed Target for the year

2012/2013

1 Sujan Nagar Barmer 2 2

2 Indara Barmer 2 2

3 Balera Barmer 2 2

4 Juna Patrasar Barmer 2 2

5 Ati Barmer 2 2

Total 10 10

List of beneficiaries

S. No. Name Village

1 Chetan Ram Juna Patra sar 2 Mahra Ram Juna Patra sar

3 Chetan Ram Sujan Nagar 4 Kumpa Ram Sujan Nagar

5 Hanif Khan Balera 6 Bhagwan Singh Balera

7 Chuna Ram Indara

8 Shankara Ram Indara 9 Luna Ram Aanti

10 Veera Ram Aanti

2. Construction of Khadin:

Construction of Khadin in the villages was decided by the field supervisor itself. A meeting of

farmers was organized and they were involved in the selection of needy one and they knew

the rules and regulation of land selection. After the land selection and listing of beneficiaries

filed supervisor and team member visited the site and approved for construction of Khadin.

During this reporting period 5 Khadins have been completed. Monitoring of Khadin has been

done by field supervisor and technical consultant time to time. Before construction of Khadin

technical consultant also verifies the layout of Khadin and the site.

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The table below shows the construction of Khadin in the targeted villages:

S. No Village Name District Name


2012/2013 1 Sujan Nagar Barmer 1 1

2 Indara Barmer 1 1

3 Balera Barmer 1 1


5 Aati Barmer 1 1

Total 5 5

List of Beneficiaries

S. No. Name of Villager Village

1 Ismala Khan Balera 2 Jeta Ram Juna Patrasar

3 Sagra ram Sujan Nagar

8

4 Gulab Singh Indara 5 Kumpa Ram Aanti

3. Horticulture Unit Development: -



2012/2013 1 Sujan Nagar Barmer 2 2

2 Indara Barmer 2 2

3 Balera Barmer 2 2


5 Aati Barmer 2 2

Total 10 10

S. No. Name of Villager Village 1 Sagrama Ram Juna Patrasar

2 Sagta Ram Juna Patrasar 3 Harmat Singh Balera

4 Bhgwan Singh Balera 5 Moola Ram Sujan Nagar

6 Pira Ram Sujan Nagar

7 Ummed Singh Indara 8 Taja Ram Indara

9 Luna Ram Aati 10 Joga Ram Aati

As per the target given to us for developing the horticulture unit, Dhara project staff organized the meeting

with the members of Kisan Club and SHG members and identified the beneficiary for developing the

Horticulture unit. Dhara Sansthan has developed 10 horticulture units in the working villages during the month

of September all the horticulture units were developed in the villages and also monitoring were done by the

project staffs to see the progress of the plants.

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4. Farmers Meeting and training:


Training and meeting provided to the Kisan Club

Total members and the villagers

who have attended the

meeting

Target for the year

2012/2013

1 Sujan Nagar Barmer 3 83 4

2 Indara Barmer 3 79 4

3 Balera Barmer 4 59 4

4 Juna Patrasar Barmer 3 47 4

5 Aati Barmer 3 37 4

Total 16 305 20

Total 16 training were conducted by the DHARA Sansthan in the working villages for the Farmers with the

help of Kisan Club to make them aware regarding the different technical aspects of Agriculture inputs and also

developing the horticulture unit.

Mr. Pradeep Pagaria (Senior Scientist, KVK) has provided the training in all the five villages and attended 5

trainings in the villages regarding the best available seeds in the market and suitable for the local climate

condition. Mr. Padeep Pagaria also said the benefits about the vermicompost and also said that if you want to

see the structures of the vermicompost then kindly visit the KVK at Daanta, which is not too far from your

village. Mr. Pradeep Pagaria also briefed about the subsidy provided by the agriculture department in the

development of Vermicompost unit.

Mr. Choga Lala Soni one of the renowned person in Barmer and who has developed a horticulture unit in

around 10 acres of land also attended some of the trainings and provided inputs on different fruit plants and the

techniques for the survival of the fruit plants.

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5. SHG Meeting organized: -

S.No Village Name District Name Training provided to SHG members

Total Members

attended the training program

Target for the year

2012/2013

1 Sujan Nagar Barmer 1 11 1

2 Indara Barmer 1 13 1

3 Balera Barmer 1 9 1

4 Juna Patrasar Barmer 1 7 1

5 Aati Barmer 1 12 1

Total 5 52 5

Five SHG training were also organized by the DHARA Sansthan and Mr. Pradeep Pagaria

has provided them some inputs on Animal Husbandry with main emphasis on Goat

rearing and sheep rearing.

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Government & Nonprofit

Drought Mitigation in Thar