Rainwater harvesting and efficient use of water

The primary source of water in dry regions is rain, which is sporadic and uncertain in nature. In order to make maximum and best use of this water, a number of technologies can be implied in these regions in consultation with farmers themselves, which must not avert the traditional practices of water harvesting and utilization. A few examples are given in the following:

Water harvesting for crop production: * Bench terraces for crop production. * Conservation benches for crop production. * V-shaped micro-catchments for fruit trees. * Roaded catchments for crop production and fruit trees. * Roaded catchments for fruit trees. * Individual basins for fruit trees. * Water spreading for crop production. * Irrigation ponds for crop production. * Drip / micro irrigation technique for fruit and vegetable production. * Pitcher irrigation for fruit / forest plants. * Sprinkler irrigation for vegetable production. Water harvesting for range management * Conservation benches for grass sowing. * Contour trenches for grass sowing. * Hillside ditches for Silvo-pastoral system. * Conservation contour trenches for fodder trees and shrubs * Roaded catchments for grass sowing. * Roaded catchments for fodder trees and shrubs. * Water spreading for grass sowing. * Boat shaped sowing pits for trees and shrubs. * Conservation contour trenches. * Eyebrow plant pits for trees and shrubs. * Conservation ponds. * Saucer shaped plant pits for trees and shrubs. * V-shaped micro-catchments for trees. Forest Plant Production: As a working figure, it has been assumed that ratio of the area of micro-catchment and improvements to down-stream productive area is 10:1. That is, every hectare of fodder development will require the drainage of up to 10 ha micro-catchments. Land works in micro-catchments are estimated at an average cost of Rs 2,000 per hectare. Over ten hectares, the development cost is therefore Rs 20,000. The cost of establishing atriplex is estimated at Rs 1.23 per plant for nursery expenses and Rs 2.5 per shrub for establishment costs, including ground preparation, planting and initial watering. In the better range areas where the subproject will be implemented, the planting density per hectare of pure fodder bank is expected to be about 5,000 shrubs (a spacing of about 1 x 2 m). Including a contingency of 20 percent for replacements, the cost of this development is estimated to be about Rs 20,000. The total cost of the hectare of atriplex including the cost of sub-watershed improvements is therefore expected to be approximately Rs

40,000.

Range Production: The fodder production of one hectare of atriplex established under these conditions should amount to 5.5 tons a year, depending upon rainfall. The value of this forage would be estimated at Rs 6,875. A quantity of fuelwood would also be harvested from the stand, which may amount to 0.5 kg per shrub every other year, or on average 0.25 kg per shrub annually. The value of the 1,250 kg of fuelwood produced on average each year would be estimated at Rs 1560. Together, the direct production benefits of a hectare of established four-wing saltbush should reach about Rs 8,440.

Indirectly, the production of the 5.5 tons of fodder could be expected to relieve grazing pressure on an adjacent 8 to 10 ha tract of rangeland. The reduction of pressure may allow the productivity of the range to improve by as much as 150 kg of dry matter per hectare. The additional benefits would be about 1.2 tons of forage valued at Rs 1,500.