Impact of traditional community tanks rejuvenation on groundwater recharge and crop productivity in Yadgir district of Kalyan Karnataka Region, India

Abstract

Yadgir district is identified as most backward ditrict by NITI ayoga on account of their “lowest composite indicators in terms of health and nutrition, education, agriculture, water resources, financial inclusion, skill development and basic infrastructure. Traditional community tanks (TCT’s) are classic examples of common pool resources that have been traditionally managed by local communities for irrigating their crops since age old and they are a living example that illustrates the capability of a man-made tank ecosystem evolved in harmony with nature to withstand natural disasters like drought, floods, and cyclones. These tanks not only protect and conserve the environment, but also contribute to livelihood security to rural farmers. These tanks have contributed significantly in agricultural production through supplementary irrigation and are declined recent decades in Yadgir district which is susceptible to drought compared to other district in the states. Such 13 TCT’s were rejuvenated for enhancing water storage capacity in the district under “Jal Samvardhane -District-wide Water Conservation Project” by Bharatiya Jain Sangh (BJS) In colloboration with Dept. of Agriculture, Yadgir. The study proved that, the average water storage capacity was raised by 24.80 percent in selected rejunuvented TCT’s. The average GWL increased for all selected tanks from 1.62 m to 3.81 m during the post-monsoon seasons of 2019 and 2020, respectively, compared to 1.31 metres before tank disiltation in Rabi 2018. Pigeonpea yield was increased by 4.13 percent (6.56 q/ha) to 20.57 percent (7.62 q/ha) with an average of 11.80 percent across all TCTs. Similarly, cotton prices increased by 4.85 percent (7.13 q/ha) to 21.53 percent (7.45 q/ha) throughout the growing season, with an average of 13.44 percent across all TCTs. Tank irrigation development activities have a substantial impact on groundwater recharge, access to groundwater, and in turn on the extension of irrigated water area. Tank irrigation development efforts have been shown to alter crop patterns, increase crop yields, and diversify crops, resulting in increased employment and farm income of small & marginal farmers of the Yadgir district.