Journal of Environmental Biology

Impact of Makowal type water system on crop productivity

in Shivalik foothills of India

Sher Singh¹*, Satvinder Singh², S.S. Bawa², S.C. Sharma² and Amit Salaria²

¹ICAR-Vivekananda Parvatiya Krishi Anusandhan Sansthan, Almora - 263 601, India

²Punjab Agricultural University Regional Research Station for Kandi Area, Ballowal Saunkhri ? 144 521, India

*Corresponding Author?s E-mail: shersingh76@gmail.com

Publication Data

Paper received:

10 October 2013

Revised received:

15 June 2014

Accepted:

09 July 2014

Abstract

The availability of water through community based water harvesting structure has intensified agriculture and improved livelihood of the surveyed beneficiary households in the Shivalik foothills of India. Before the introduction of Makowal Type Water Harvesting System (before MTWHS), only 83.8% farmers in kharif and 79.7% during rabi season were growing crops but after its introduction (after MTWHS) the corresponding values improved to 100% and 97.3%, respectively, thus increasing cropping intensity from 145% to 189%. Introduction of MTWHS enabled farmers to take paddy and agro-forestry during Kharif, and vegetables and fodder during Rabi season. The increase in cultivated area due to MTWHS was to the tune of 46.1% in Kharif and 36.3% during Rabi, while increase in crop productivity ranged from 55.1% to 111.3% in kharif and 8.6 to 132.0% in Rabi season. Better availability of irrigation changed varietal spectrum in favour of hybrids and high yielding varieties and farmers started adopting improved agronomic practices targeting better input-use efficiency. The MTWHS produced positive impact on the on-farm (crops, dairy and agro-forestry) sources of income and reduced the relative dependence on off-farm activities (labour, community forest area, etc.) for earnings. This system has brought drinking water very close to hutments of rural women thus reducing their drudgery and saving time. In general, rainwater harvesting from forest watersheds has resulted in quantum jumps in crop and milk production and acted as a catalyst to tie up the economic interest of communities, along with forest protection.     

 Key words

Agro-forestry, Cropping pattern, Dairy farming, Diversification, Rainwater harvesting, Technology adoption 

Copyright ? 2015 Triveni Enterprises. All rights reserved. No part of the Journal can be reproduced in any form without prior permission. Responsibility regarding the authenticity of the data, and the acceptability of the conclusions enforced or derived, rest completely with the author(s).