The institute identified River Basin Management as a model to establish and demonstrate sustainable methodology for arresting climate change ill effects and maintain a healthy ecosystem at a basin scale. River Basin Management - “Process of coordinating conservation, management and development of water, land and related resources within a given river basin". This approach will help to maintain very healthy ecosystem, sustainable agriculture and food security.
In Rukmavati river basin project, apart from focus on rainwater harvesting planning for other natural resources were also taken care of. Resources based planning for the basin was carried out through participatory rural appraisal (PRA) approach and detailed project was prepared. Different activities implemented through linkages with various agencies.
Soil health is key for overall food security and in long run health of planet. Through proper natural resource management and capacity building of farmers’ soil health objective could be achieved and also food security and planetary health could be achieved.
With focus of better management of natural resources across basin area, impact has been observed through more water storage, improvement in ground water quality and also quantity, higher agricultural production and improved pasture land. As the basin area has issue of salinity in ground water concept of more crop per drop was introduced.
With strategy of participatory (community) resource management and climate risk proofing across river basin area, the key achievement we are considering is overall improvement in soil carbon in basin. When we compare soil carbon scenario of 2009 and 2017 it was found that carbon sequestration has been increased by 25% basin which indicates improvement in soil health and contribute to planetary health. The increasing rate of carbon sequestration is 2.78 % year.
The other achievement is improved water resources which ultimately benefited to agriculture. During this period 110 new rain water harvesting structures have been constructed having 1713 beneficiary farmers and 3844 Ha of lands got irrigation security. These structures also helped in improvement in ground water quality and quantity through aquifer recharge. For existing rain water harvesting structures, renovation (desilting) carried out in 112 having 542 beneficiary farmers and 719 Ha area received fertile silt which resulted in reduced requirement of chemical fertilizer. Efficient use of water through promotion of drip irrigation – 4500 hectares of land has been covered under this system. This system helps in 30 to 50% saving in irrigation water (depending upon crop), saving in chemical fertilizer and other resources. Drip irrigation system is also helpful in agriculture with saline water. Due to low volume of water required, there is low salt input in soil. This will prevent further deterioration of soil and help to maintain healthy soil.
With the capacity building of rural community, they are looking at multiple sources of income and not only looking at agriculture.
One of the key long-term achievements is reducing trend in migration from rural to urban area with increased economic return and employment availability. Some of villages have shown trend of reverse migration – from urban to rural area.
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