Record Details

Scaling-up agriculture water management interventions for building system resilience in Bundelkhand region of Central India

OAR@ICRISAT

View Archive Info
 
 
Field Value
 
Relation http://oar.icrisat.org/12310/
https://shs.hal.science/halshs-04279996/
 
Title Scaling-up agriculture water management interventions for building system resilience in Bundelkhand region of Central India
 
Creator Garg, K K
Anantha, K H
Barron, J
Singh, R
Dev, I
Dixit, S
Whitbread, A M
 
Subject Agriculture
Watershed Management
Water Resources
India
 
Description This case study provides evidence for combating drought, and achieving sustainable crop intensification, in rainfed areas of Bundelkhand region, Central India. The Garkundar-Dabar and Parasai-Sindh watersheds were developed as proof of concept by the Indian Council of Agriculture Research-Central Agroforestry Research Institute (ICAR-CAFRI) and the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) between 2006 and 2016. This study indicates pathways for harnessing the potential of rainfed
areas by implementing various agricultural water management (AWM) interventions. Rainwater harvesting measures, especially rejuvenation of the haveli system (traditional rainwater harvesting system of the region), along with various in situ water harvesting interventions, were found promising for addressing water scarcity and strengthening
various ecosystem services. Water harvesting measures, improved agricultural practices (such as balanced fertilizer application, introduction of climate-smart crop cultivars, weed and pest management) and supplemental irrigation, enhanced crop yield by 30-50% and cropping intensity from 80
to 150%. Enhanced groundwater availability (2-2.5 m additional head) helped to reduce crop risk, through the availability of supplemental irrigation and enhanced cropping intensity, as large areas of fallow land were converted to cultivation. AWM interventions also helped to enhance base flow (35-42 days to 110-122 days), control floods, soil erosion and land degradation (by about 33%), and enhance land and water use efficiency (40-70%).
Since 2017, lessons from these model watersheds have been scaled up in all seven districts of Uttar Pradesh Bundelkhand region, by an ICRISAT-led consortium. This study explores the potential of rainfed areas that are achievable through the adoption of AWM interventions. It suggests that the role of extension, through capacity building and
exposure of various stakeholders to AWM, is key to harnessing the potential of drylands. In order to further scale up such innovations to the entire region, it is important to involve knowledge generating and knowledge dissemination institutes, along with central and federal machineries. Involvement of private and non-governmental organizations as well will help achieve system level outcomes.
 
Publisher Department of Soil and Environment, SLU
 
Contributor Barron, J
Tengberg, A
 
Date 2023
 
Type Book Section
PeerReviewed
 
Format application/pdf
 
Language en
 
Rights cc_by_sa
 
Identifier http://oar.icrisat.org/12310/1/Rainfed%20systems%20intensification%20and%20scaling%20of%20water%20and%20soil%20management%20Four%20case%20studies%20of%20development%20in%20family%20farming_51-78_2023.pdf
Garg, K K and Anantha, K H and Barron, J and Singh, R and Dev, I and Dixit, S and Whitbread, A M (2023) Scaling-up agriculture water management interventions for building system resilience in Bundelkhand region of Central India. In: Rainfed systems intensification and scaling of water and soil management: four case studies of development in family farming. Department of Soil and Environment, SLU, pp. 51-78. ISBN 978-91-8046-893-0