Rural & Agriculture
Our Indigenous Systems and Techniques to Enhance Water Availability
Non-Irrigational Agricultural Systems
Patta Bunding
Scanty and unexpected rains such as those that frequent today's Monsoons often don't wet even 4 inches of the Top Soil, thus diminishing the overall Soil Moisture, triggering an adverse domino effect in the Agricultural Produce.
The land is split into a number of compartments, around which 1.5 ft. burrows are dug, turning the whole land into an earthen tank. This implementation enables the soil to retrain moisture from the scantiest rain up to 1.5 ft. inherently enriching the soil and hence the agricultural produce. For suitable crops, implementation of this system results in assured crop.
Compartment Bunding
Compartment Bunding is primarily used for enhancing the subsoil moisture on a large scale for Tree Based Agriculture. The compartments vary in size from 1-4 acres, according to the slope of the land to quickly stop the surface runoff. Thereby the system encourages the natural levelling of the land, in addition to creation of containers to hold water, and the terraces ensure a more efficient runoff management. This system is ideal for the practice of Horticulture as it enhances, drastically, the availability of water as moisture in the sub-soil region.
Trench and Pit System
This system uses an alternating row of pits and trenches to obstruct the runoff in large volumes and charge the subsoil and eventually the ground water table. The pits are dug out in suitable sizes varying with the slope and materials available to fill the pits. If sand is locally available the pits shall be filled with sand to enhance the percolation rate, in addition sand is acting as a filter. If sand is not available, coarse soil with additional materials from organic fibres shall be used to fill the pits.
Earthen Dam
Earthen Dams are water management constructions. In first place they are build against streams and nalas to aggregate the surface runoff, but can be complimented with lakes, too. They are build out of a excavated soil with a supporting wall on the load bearing end. Earthen Dams encourage the replenishment of groundwater in direct and indirect fashions. In addition, recharge shafts are build into the dam to refill subsoil water and eventually ground water. They are an effective alternative to large dams.
Stream Water Harvesting
Steam Water Harvesting is implemented along streams by obstructing them and constructing a Sub-Surface Dam with a simple polyethylene sheet. It is proven to very effectively recharge sub-soil and ground water tables. Stream Water Harvesting offers water security over prolonged periods by storing the surface runoff in the ground water table. The harnessed water is effectively pushed into natural underground streams, thus enhancing the availability of water in wells and borewells.
Tree Based Agriculture
Tree Based Agriculture can be practiced in arid/semi arid areas and require very less investment and maintenance. Trees not only increase the level of moisture and increase the probability of rain as a result of transpo-evaporation, but also help in the infiltration of water via the trenches formed by their roots. The Tree Based Agriculture system focuses on planting trees at definite intervals, with 125 pits dug out per hectare to increase the water infiltration capacity that in turn increases drastically the soil moisture, aiding in quick and healthy growth of the trees. In addition, it offers year-round employment security to farmers.