Background

Most of the farmers in Hosadurga taluk are small and marginal farmers who are not well organised. They did not use new methods of farming. Due to the excess use of fertilizers and pesticides, the soil was losing its fertility. Soil erosion was resulting in shallow depth soils causing low agricultural production. Due to high temperature, tanks and Bore wells dry up causing acute drinking water problem for both livestock and human beings. Due to constant drought conditions, crops failed, affecting the economic levels of the farmers as well as land less labours badly. This resulted in migration of land less people and marginal farmers, which affected the education of their children.

The Project

NABARD-WDF Assisted Watershed Development Programme is sponsored by the Government of India undertaken by Ministry of Agriculture. The village community is benefited by enhancement of productivity of wastelands in making available grass, fodder, etc. Also, by the soil and moisture conservation works, groundwater recharge is achieved. Employment opportunities are also created through this programme. We are working in four watersheds in Hosadurga viz. Devigere, Janthikolalu, Baguru and Heruru Kerenalas.

VISITS

3. 3. DDM of NABARD – To witness the successful completion of the work

1. 4. GRAMA, Chitradurga (3 batches) – to visit our Watershed areas

1. 1. Kannamangala Kiru Jalanayana watershed in K. Muttakadahalli, Shidlagatta Taluk in Kolar District – Watershed Project Area specially for horticulture and forestry

These are the trainings given for the farmers in the fields:

1. 1. Livestock and Fodder development

Nisarga took up the project with a baseline survey of 23 villages for which 17 staff were recruited. Mobilisation of People was done through door to door visit, street meetings, meetings with village heads, leaders, and Grama Panchayath members, Jatha programmes, announcement through mega phone, distribution of pamphlets, wall writings, and magic shows.  The Environmental and Social Assessment was given to the people. The concept of Sujala was explained through Grama Sabha. The villagers were instructed not to graze animals in common land, not to cultivate excess water consuming crops, and not to cut trees.

1. 1. Soil and Water Conservation: The level of water in bore wells was only 250 to 300 feet earlier, but after the implementation of the project its gone up to 100-200 feet. With the implementation of the project excess erosion of soil and loss of fertility was controlled to 60-65%. Soil and Water Conservation was achieved through Earthen Bunds, Pebble Bund, Waste Weirs, Farm Ponds, trenches/bunds, Sowing of Hemata for Bundings. Drainage Line Treatment was achieved through Boulder Bunds, Rubble Checks, Boulder Checks, Loose Boulder Check, and Rock Filled Dam. Roof water harvesting was also introduced.

1. 2. Horticulture: Earlier 60% of the farmers grew only coconut plants. However, with NABARD they began to grow mango. An average of 57 hectares land is used for horticulture.

1. 3. Forestry: Forestry is accomplished by planting 1,42,400 plants in agricultural fields on the bunds and in the school campuses.

1. 4. Live Stock: The milk production was very low and the hybrid animals were rare. Later the trainings on animal husbandry, demonstrations, and exposure to BAIF have given awareness to farmers and made them to take up dairy farming. They also have started a milk dairy unit in Devigere. Hebballi village was producing only 600 litres of milk. This has gone up to 1000 litres per day.

1. 5. Income Generating Activity: 350 landless people in the four watersheds received 25,00,000 rupees towards income generating activities such as tailoring, animal husbandry, petty shops, small scale business like flower-fruits-vegetables vending, broomstick polishing. These activities have changed their lives and economically empowered them.

1. 6. Gender Sensitisation: Patriarchal system was very dominant in Hosadurga. Now women have attained equal right in daily wages. They are involved in decision making in families, Grama Sabhas and other meetings. They contest in Panchayath elections and they have become members in Gram Panchayath and Taluk Panchayaths. Some women have become Village Watershed Committee members and some of them are the members of School Development and Management Committee of the village.

1. 7. Leadership:  Leadership among people was lacking. Now people are coming forward to take lead positions in Panchayaths and other committees. It was hard to find any woman taking leadership, but now the tables have turned. Women are easily taking leadership than men

1. 8. Migration: Earlier 85% of the people used to migrate to coffee estates. However, they stopped migration and settled in their native lands because of NABARD Watershed Project.

1. 9. Social Changes and Changes in Attitudes: Sense of hygiene has improved.  Now the sense of self dignity and self respect has increased in the Dalit community. 50% have changed their attitude towards Dalits.