Low-cost farm ponds for rainwater harvesting

Climatic vulnerability

The climate of Dimapur district is hot and humid in the plains during summer (reaching a maximum of 36^oC) while winters are cool and pleasant. The average annual rainfall of the district is 1505 mm. In spite of high rainfall during rainy season, water scarcity is a major problem during dry season due to which farmers face untold hardship. This is due to lack of proper water management specially rainwater harvesting and utilization

Interventions

Low-cost farm ponds for rainwater harvesting:

Interventions were taken up to popularize low-cost rainwater harvesting structures ‘Jalkund’ with silpaulin (5x4x1.5 m) having a storage capacity 30,000 liters, for harvesting rainwater during rainy season and subsequent use during dry periods for life saving irrigation in high value winter vegetables.

Selection of beneficiaries was done with the help of Village Climate Risk Management Committee and Farmers club members. Altogether 15 beneficiaries were randomly selected including individual farmers and SHGs. Training was imparted to the selected beneficiaries and inputs like silpualin (4x5x1.5m size), digging charge (Rs 1500) and seeds of high value winter vegetables like broccoli, celery, capsicum etc. were distributed to the farmers.

Presently, all the 15 Jalkunds are in good condition and the farmers are happy with the technology as they can harvest 30,000 liters of water for use during dry season for their kitchen gardens and as a source of drinking water for livestock.

Construction of rock-fill dam and concrete irrigation channel:

Langlung river is the main source for irrigating 150 ha of rice fields covering 76 farm households in the village. The villagers divert the water from the river with the help of rock-fill dam supported by bamboo structures to two water harvesting ponds and then to their fields through Kaccha irrigation channel. However, due to heavy rains and strong river current, farmers were forced to spend 60-70% of their working days in repairing and renovation of the dam and irrigation channel every year. Hence, a rock-fill dam was constructed using sausage wire and a concrete irrigation channel (1000 ft.) as a means to reduce the wastage of time in regular repair and renovation of the dam. With this, it is expected that farmers will utilize 80-90% of their working days in farm activities which will subsequently increase the production and productivity of their crops. 

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