Simple soak pits and farm trenches have changed the landscape of this village that does not have access to assured source of irrigation and depends on borewells for cultivation.
For instance Dharni Mahipal who owns three acres used to struggle to grow a crop on one acre due to water scarcity. This yasangi he has sown paddy in three acres and the crop is ready to harvest. Last year he along with other farmers dug farm trenches and the residents formed soak pits at every home in the village and today ground water is available at six metres.
Initial scepticism
Following the Four Water concept of engineer and micro-watershed evangelist T. Hanumantha Rao, the villagers dug trenches covering about 600 acres in the village. Though initially the farmers were sceptical about the idea of digging trenches as they would have to lose part of their land, they were convinced by K. Yella Reddy, son of sarpanch Lakshmi.
“Earlier we used to cultivate only one acre. But this time we have cultivated three acres because of trenches we dug in our farms. The fields continue to look green due to availability of ground water,” said Mr. Mahipal.
Vegetable crops
He not only did he sow paddy but also had taken up cultivation of vegetables like bitter gourd and ridge gourd by setting up pandals (trellis). Mr Mahipal has earned as much as ₹ 90,000 on an investment of ₹ 20,000 in a span of 50 days. Another couple of farmers have followed his example and are getting similar results.
Taking cue from Mahipal, more farmers are getting set to erect pandals on their farms. The success story of the village has caught the attention of the Government and Irrigation Minister T. Harish Rao has been repeatedly taking the example of this village at farmers’ meetings underscoring the importance of the community effort in conservation of water.
“We have lost the crop in hardly 15 acres in the entire village, while the crop yield across the village has been more than expected. Digging trenches has changed our farmers’ lives for the better,” Mr. Yella Reddy told The Hindu .
