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

    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

    [img] PDF - Published Version
    Available under License Creative Commons Attribution Share Alike.
    Download (2MB)

    Abstract

    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.

    Item Type: Book Section
    Divisions: Global Research Program - Resilient Farm and Food Systems
    CRP: UNSPECIFIED
    Uncontrolled Keywords: agriculture, water management interventions, system resilience, Bundelkhand, Central India
    Subjects: Others > Agriculture
    Others > Watershed Management
    Others > Water Resources
    Others > India
    Depositing User: Mr Nagaraju T
    Date Deposited: 23 Nov 2023 06:45
    Last Modified: 23 Nov 2023 08:24
    URI: http://oar.icrisat.org/id/eprint/12310
    Acknowledgement: Authors gratefully acknowledges the financial support received from Government of Uttar Pradesh for implementing KISAN MITrA (Knowledge-based Integrated Sustainable Agriculture Network – Mission India for Transforming Agriculture) project in seven districts of Bundelkhand region of Uttar Pradesh state in Central India. Funding support received from CGIAR Research Program on Water Land and Ecosystem for monitoring data in Parasai Sindh watershed of Jhansi district is highly appreciated. Authors also grateful to Swedish University of Agriculture Sciences (SLU), Uppsala, Sweden for facilitating the development of this case study.
    Links:
    View Statistics

    Actions (login required)

    View Item View Item
    Altmetric
    OAR@ICRISAT is powered by EPrints 3 which is developed by the School of Electronics and Computer Science at the University of Southampton. More information and software credits.