By RAMESH SAVAIKAR | NT
BICHOLIM: Area development programmes of the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) like the Drought Prone Area Programme (DPAP), Drought Prone Area Programme (DDP) and Integrated Wasteland Development Programme (IWDP) have been following the watershed development approach since 1995-96 with the first watershed development guidelines coming into force.
With the coming into effect of the new Common Guidelines, 2008, the individual Watershed Development Programmes have been merged together to form one comprehensive programme, namely, Integrated Watershed Management Programme (IWMP).
The main aims of the IWMP are to restore the ecological balance by harnessing, conserving and developing degraded natural resources such as soil, vegetative cover and water.
The outcomes are prevention of soil run-off, regeneration of natural vegetation, rain water harvesting and recharging of the ground water table.
This enables multi-cropping and introduction of diverse agro-based activities, which help to provide sustainable livelihoods to the people residing in the watershed area.
The state agriculture department has implemented this scheme. Bicholim, Ponda, Quepem and Pernem are the four talukas selected and covered under National Watershed Development Programme (NWDP) for conservation of soil and water.
The main objectives are to check soil erosion and percolation of water by constructing check-dams, contour bunds, crest-shaped trenches etc, reduction in regional disparity between irrigated and rain fed areas, enhancement of agricultural productivity and production in sustainable manner, to increase ground water tables by improving network of run-off management structures and devices, to strengthen the farming community by introducing scientific production system and associated sustainability.
The activities undertaken are formation of watershed association and watershed communities, implementation of activities related to natural resources conservation, development of programme for livelihood support and building capacity of communities through training programmes.
In the state, around 23,000 hectares of land has been covered under watershed programme, with the intention of conserving water along with soil so as to make water available for drinking and cultivation during late summer season when there is a shortage of water.
The zonal agriculture officer of Bicholim, Mr Pradeep Malik, while explaining about the programme said, “watershed is a natural unit formed due to interaction and influence of water with soil. The area between the ridge line of hillock and valley is called a watershed area.”
“Basically land water and vegetation cover are maintained and enhanced with the help of bandharas, check-dams, crest-shaped trenches, etc that are set up across the hill. Crest-shaped trenches are dug, specially, in cashew plantations to facilitate its watering. Trenches of one and half metre length, and about half metre width and depth are dug near trees so that rain water gushing down the hill is collected in the trenches which enable to provide moisture to the trees,” Mr Malik explained further.
Check dams, bandharas, or ponds are built on the streams of water flowing down the hill to control velocity of water coming down the hill. This is called rain harvesting, he said further.
Augmentation of water resources, desiltation of village tanks for drinking water and irrigation, aforestation by block plantation, agro– forestry and horticulture development, shelter belt plantation and dune stabilization, rejuvenation of abandoned wells for domestic use, maintenance of cashew, mango along with other minor fruit trees, high and low quality timber, minor wood trees by supporting fencing and low cost water storage tank called as ‘Jalkund’, promotion of self-help groups by training and assistance in marketing the products -- are some of the tasks undertaken under watershed development programme.
Dicholi Watershed Development Programme, Bicholim, has formed watershed associations in villages involving self help groups and user groups and watershed development team.
Entry point activities across micro-watersheds are undertaken with the purpose to develop a rapport with the people and to meet a part of community needs.
The president of Watershed Association of Sarvan village in Bicholim taluka, Mr Rayu Sawant, expressed satisfaction with the achievement of this programme.
Mr Sawant said that the programme was implemented for 3 years. “Rs 20-lakh fund was sanctioned by the department. The farmers dug crest-shaped trenches in cashew plantation for rainwater harvesting, bandharas on nullahas were constructed to control soil erosion, and fencing around cashew plantations was carried out,” Mr Sawant informed.
“Five self help groups of women were formed; the women were provided training in tailoring, embroidery, bag making, handicrafts etc. Construction of protection walls for nullahas, maintainance of common wells and lakes were the other tasks completed under watershed programme, he said.
When asked his reaction about the implementation and achievement of the programme, Mr Sawant opined that programme was good, but the farmers did not avail the benefits with sincere intention of promoting plantations.
