In Bundelkhand, one checkdam has been completed and the construction of another is in progress. 86 ha of contour bunding have additionally been completed, benefitting 43 farmers. Women's group meetings and farmers' group meetings are continuing to take place. See the full report below.

Women’s group meetings

The formation of strong and effective women’s groups in both villages will ensure that women have an equal stake and equal decision-making powers in the development  and protection of the watershed.  In order to accomplish this goal, Gramonnati has been conducting a series of meetings on issues of concern to women. These meetings also include topics that are of specific importance to watershed development and sustainable agriculture. The content of the women’s group meetings so far are as follows:

• Oct 2011 – Violence against women
  • 13 women participated
• Oct 2011 – Vegetable gardening
  • 13 women participated
• Nov 2011 – Follow-up to water testing training, information about winter illnesses, and information about midday meal schemes run by the government
  • 13 women participated
• Dec 2011 – Information on government schemes that benefit women (e.g., Indira Gandhi Maternal Welfare Scheme)
  • 18 women participated
  • 26 women have subsequently applied for the scheme
• Jan 2012 – Voter awareness drive

• Nov 2011 – Discussed upcoming sowing of wheat and planned for soil/horticulture training
  • 9 farmers participated
• Nov 2011 – 24 farmers underwent 1-day soil testing training from a lab in Mahoba
• Nov 2011 – Same group of 24 farmers underwent horticulture training
• Dec 2011 – To encourage horticulture
  • Subsequently 15 farmers agreed to grow vegetables, out of which 6 are growing them commercially and 9 are growing them for personal consumption
• Jan 2012 – Education on crop disease, prevention, and cure, as well as about matka khad, a type of organic compost
  • 8 farmers participated in the meeting
  • 5 farmers have started using matka khad

Contour bunding

4 Ha of former wasteland is now fit for agricultural cultivation due to the construction of contour bunds. The farmers who have had contour bunding in their fields had a crop yield of approximately 1.5 times more than those who have not had this work done. Farmers Ranvijay Singh, Munni Lal, Dani Singh, Ram Kirpal, Madhav Prasad have all agreed to create rainwater outlets in their fields as part of the larger watershed design.

Process: The farmer submits an application to the Watershed Committee, requesting that his field undergo bunding. An agreement is signed between Gramonnati, the farmer, and the Watershed Committee to do the work, as well as to entrust future maintenance of the bund to the farmer. 10% of the labour involved in all construction projects is contributed by the community.

Farm pond

One farm pond has been constructed (F6 on the map below).

Checkdam construction

Six farmers will benefit from the construction that has already happened for one check dam in Tola Swayam on Sita Rani’s field (C6 on the map below). The catchment area is 25 Ha, the water storage capacity is 6336 m3, and the command area is 18 acres (see Annexure 1 for details).

Another check dam is under construction in Bilkhi on Chandra Sekhar’s field (C3 on the map below). The catchment area is 100 Ha, the water storage capacity is 3604 m3, and the command area is 20 acres (see Annexure 2 for details). At least seven farmers will benefit.

Process: A user group of beneficiary farmers is formed. There are two separate agreements that are signed before construction commences – one between a farmer, Gramonnati, and the Watershed Committee to enable the use of the farmer’s land, and one between the user group, Gramonnati, and the Watershed Committee to entrust maintenance of the check dam to the user group.

Well cleaning

10 wells have been shortlisted to be cleaned and repaired, out of which 3 are done. 16 farmers will benefit from this activity. The work is being undertaken under the supervision of the Watershed Committee.

Soil and water testing

The water testing report is attached (Annexure 3). Soil testing has also been undertaken to educate farmers about what kind of fertilizer to use in their fields.

Convergence with government schemes

Under the Bundelkhand Relief Package, 15 farmers had wells dug in their fields and 7 farmers have contour bunding done in their fields. Under the Forest Department, the hillside adjoining the Tola Swayam watershed has been treated – 25 gully-plugs have been constructed. Under JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency), 30 ha of land in Bilkhi have had trenches dug.

Tree planting

46 tree guards were repaired and maintained. All of the 900 trees planted by Gramonnati and the Bilkhi and Tola Swayam panchayats on the road between Tola Swayam and Bilkhi and around the contour bunds are alive and thriving. 5000 more trees will be planted by the watershed in July.

Download Annexure 1.

Download Annexure 2.

Download Annexure 3.