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Roof Water Harvesting in Hills - Innovations for Farm Diversification and Livelihood Improvement


Affiliations
1 ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Umiam 793 103, India
2 ICAR-National Institute of Abiotic Stress Management, Baramati 413 115, India
3 ICAR-Indian Grassland and Fodder Research Institute, Jhansi 284 003, India
 

The north eastern region (NER) of India receives bountiful rains (>2000 mm) annually. However, there is extreme water scarcity during post- and premonsoon season (November-March). In such a situation, roof water harvesting (RWH) holds promise for multiple livelihood opportunities. RWH unit with polyfilm lined water collection tank of 37 m3 storage capacity (i.e. 5.5 x 4.5 x 1.5 m3) was demonstrated at 11 farmers fields mostly on hill tops in the Ri-Bhoi district (Meghalaya). The average demonstration area was 500 m2/farmer in the vicinity of homesteads (kitchen gardens). Volume of water harvested in a collection tank was about 53 m3 including about 16 m3 harvested during dry season due to seasonal replenishment. The cost of water harvesting was estimated at about Rs 144 and Rs 119/m3 considering lifespan of five and ten years respectively. Farmers used harvested water for diversified activities such as raising crops [maize, broccoli, French bean, laipatta (Brassica juncea), tomato, etc.] and livestock (pig or poultry) in addition to domestic use. The farmers without RWH could use land only during rainy season for crop cultivation. On an average, the net income from each RWH based model (500 m2 demonstration area) was Rs 14,910 for crop + piggery and Rs 11,410 for crop + poultry farming which was 261 and 176% higher, respectively than the normal farmers' practice. Similarly, employment and water use efficiency enhanced by 221 and 586%; and 168 and 218% under crop + piggery and crop + poultry based farming respectively.

Keywords

Jalkund, Multiple Use of Water, NER Hills, Rain Water Harvesting, Silpaulin.
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  • Roof Water Harvesting in Hills - Innovations for Farm Diversification and Livelihood Improvement

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Authors

Anup Das
ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Umiam 793 103, India
R. K. Singh
ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Umiam 793 103, India
G. I. Ramkrushna
ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Umiam 793 103, India
Jayanta Layek
ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Umiam 793 103, India
A. K. Tripathi
ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Umiam 793 103, India
S. V. Ngachan
ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Umiam 793 103, India
B. U. Choudhury
ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Umiam 793 103, India
D. P. Patel
ICAR-National Institute of Abiotic Stress Management, Baramati 413 115, India
D. J. Rajkhowa
ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Umiam 793 103, India
Debasish Chakroborty
ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Umiam 793 103, India
P. K. Ghosh
ICAR-Indian Grassland and Fodder Research Institute, Jhansi 284 003, India

Abstract


The north eastern region (NER) of India receives bountiful rains (>2000 mm) annually. However, there is extreme water scarcity during post- and premonsoon season (November-March). In such a situation, roof water harvesting (RWH) holds promise for multiple livelihood opportunities. RWH unit with polyfilm lined water collection tank of 37 m3 storage capacity (i.e. 5.5 x 4.5 x 1.5 m3) was demonstrated at 11 farmers fields mostly on hill tops in the Ri-Bhoi district (Meghalaya). The average demonstration area was 500 m2/farmer in the vicinity of homesteads (kitchen gardens). Volume of water harvested in a collection tank was about 53 m3 including about 16 m3 harvested during dry season due to seasonal replenishment. The cost of water harvesting was estimated at about Rs 144 and Rs 119/m3 considering lifespan of five and ten years respectively. Farmers used harvested water for diversified activities such as raising crops [maize, broccoli, French bean, laipatta (Brassica juncea), tomato, etc.] and livestock (pig or poultry) in addition to domestic use. The farmers without RWH could use land only during rainy season for crop cultivation. On an average, the net income from each RWH based model (500 m2 demonstration area) was Rs 14,910 for crop + piggery and Rs 11,410 for crop + poultry farming which was 261 and 176% higher, respectively than the normal farmers' practice. Similarly, employment and water use efficiency enhanced by 221 and 586%; and 168 and 218% under crop + piggery and crop + poultry based farming respectively.

Keywords


Jalkund, Multiple Use of Water, NER Hills, Rain Water Harvesting, Silpaulin.

References





DOI: https://doi.org/10.18520/cs%2Fv113%2Fi02%2F292-298