Case3-May-2012
A pilot project for conserving small scale irrigation tanks for livelihood protection of farm families relying on agriculture and allied activities using tanks water as the source is under progress in Pambar-Kottakariyar river basin in South India. This model project is the collaborative effort of Axis Bank Foundation and DVTF to revive the tank cascades for poverty reduction and sustainable agriculture. The total cost of the Project is Rs.1648.76 lakhs of which, Axis Bank Foundation shares Rs.1336.32 lakhs and Community contributes Rs.312.44 lakhs. The total project period is for 5 years from the year 2011
The project area is at the junction of four districts namely Madurai, Dindigul, Sivaganga and Pudukottai where the four blocks are situated on contiguous basis namely Natham in Dindigul, Kottampatti in Madurai, S.Pudur in Sivaganga and Ponnamaravathy in Pudukottai districts. This entire belt is known for intensive tankfed agriculture and most of the families residing here are small and marginal farmers and they mainly depending on agriculture for their livelihood.
The project area is part of the Pambar- Kottakaraiar river basin on hydrological basis for drainage of rain water during the monsoon. The area falls under Thirumanimuthar sub basin with three ephemeral streams namely Thirumanimuthar, Virusuliar and Manimuthar and finally joins together at a point and then drains to Pambar Kottakaraiar basin. This region has hundreds of small scale water bodies viz. irrigation tanks and village ponds which caters the irrigation, livelihood and drinking water needs of the people.
"Ensuring the improved agricultural and allied livelihoods to the underprivileged poor farming and landless community living in disasters (flood induced/ drought hit) ephemeral Pambar-Kottakariyar river basin in South India"
The following are the specific objectives of the project
To ensure the above development interventions the following programme components will be
To achieve first objective of the project, one professional and one community accountant will be placed in each block. Primary people institutions will be promoted at village level covering 156 tanks under each block with 15 to 20 cascade of tanks and 31 village ponds per block. A nested people institution that covers 750 water bodies and 75tank cascades will be created
To achieve the second objectives of the project, our local team would ensure the rehabilitation of 156 tanks and 31 village ponds in each block. Each tank would be focused for rehabilitation of its supply channel, deepening tank bed, repairs of sluices and surplus weirs and provision of shutters to sluices. The priority will be given for the most affected and needy poor farming community under each tank and ponds. Focus will be on increasing agricultural productivity and livelihood enhancement through this developmental works.
The endowment will be created for each water body proposed for rehabilitation and through this endowment created the interest earned would be available for the annual regular maintenance of the tanks and ponds. This activity would ensure the future sustainability of the promoted institutions.
The farmers field school for selected crops, SRI System Rice Intensification and plant clinics at cascade level etc. will be established in 80 cascades for demonstration purpose. Crop Cultivation Competitions is also planned at each block level.
It was observed that farm families in the project area own livestocks for generating additional income. Animal health camps are hence planned in the project area at cascade level at the rate of one camp per cascade. Based on the needs the packages of intervention will be evolved and integrated. The MFGs to be promoted would take care of the credit needs for animal rearing and related activities.
It was observed that the project area and the Thirumanimuthar sub basin is at the head reaches of the pambar and Kootakaraiar basin and is situated very close to hillocks with higher percentage of slope. This would enhance the soil erosion and siltation of the link channels and tanks in the lower reaches. It was observed that 25 to 40 percentages of the cultivable lands along the channels and drainage lines in the sub basin is affected by this issue of siltation. In addition, this siltation also reduces the storage capacities of the tanks and ponds. Soil and water conservation measures such as loose rock check dams across the drainage lines, field bunding in the private lands, tree plantations in the lands of catchment's and in foreshore of the tanks and others as suited in the particular tank catchment's in consultation with the community is planned in the project area to arrest siltation in 60 cascades.
Fingerlings will be provided for developing inland fisheries in 300 tanks and water bodies and demonstrations of the activity will be done. The additional revenue generated through fish rearing would be used for sustainability of the people institutions around the water bodies for regular maintenance and management of the tanks and water bodies.
Out of 625 tanks, at 100 tanks exclusive focus would be given to create dead storage which would be below the sill level and is available only for fish rearing and animal drinking. This would be the unique product for demonstration of fish rearing and replicated for the rest in future.