No-cost water conservation technique saves the day in a Gujarat village
With groundwater levels declining at an alarming rate in north Gujarat due to overuse, some farmers are leading the way by adopting innovative irrigation methods.
Gujarat’s alluvial plains are well-known for their aquifer system but due to overexploitation of groundwater in the northern districts, groundwater levels have shown a declining trend. This has led to a higher water-lifting cost in addition to the increasing investment required for the deepening of wells.
In fact, with the natural recharge not keeping up with the extraction, groundwater levels have dipped more than 190 m below ground level at some places in North Gujarat.
Let’s take the example of village Pethapur in Sabarkantha district of North Gujarat. A monthly record of the water level and quality of ground water shows a declining trend in the last five years.
If this skip furrow irrigation method is adopted in agriculture, about 40-50% of water can be saved.
The water quality parameters (Ph, EC, TDS, etc) are also nearing dangerous levels, with the groundwater containing harmful elements such as nitrite, fluoride, and salts. There is a definite need for the conservation of groundwater.
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Managing groundwater supply
Artificial recharge of groundwater has an important role to play in water conservation and augmentation. The Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) has adopted artificial recharge techniques, harvesting the surplus runoff and storing it in the sub-surface reservoir, giving a new dimension to groundwater sustainability in North Gujarat.
Managing the demand for groundwater
On the other hand, if there is no scope for groundwater recharge, then the demand for it, mainly for agricultural use, has to be curtailed to prevent the decline of the water table.
Meanwhile, an aggressive campaign started by the local Development Support Centre and Hindustan Unilever Foundation combines efficient uses of groundwater and cropping pattern shifts in agriculture for a positive impact.
The issue of declining water tables in North Gujarat, particularly in the Sabarkantha district, is indeed alarming. Since 85% of groundwater and surface water is used for agriculture, the management of irrigation is crucial.
For the conservation of water for agricultural irrigation, farmers may adopt techniques like skip and alternate furrow irrigation, crop rotation ( for low water consumption), maximise the use of FYM (farmyard manure) and composting, adopt mulching and adopt micro irrigation methods.
Positive impact of skip/furrow irrigation
Farmer Mukundsinh Chauhan, from Pethapur village of Himatnagar tehsil, is a shining example of how these methods can prove to be productive. Having grown cotton crops for several years, he recently adopted the skip/alternate furrow irrigation method.
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Earlier, he says, he irrigated every furrow, but with the intervention of the Development Support Centre and Hindustan Unilever foundation, he was encouraged to adopt alternate furrow irrigation.
Chauhan says, “If this skip furrow irrigation method is adopted in agriculture, about 40-50% of water can be saved. If every farmer in Gujarat adopts this method, we can save water in good quantities. And with this, we can avoid groundwater going down and use good quality water for drinking and agriculture.”
There are several benefits of the technique. Besides the 40-50% reduction in water usage, skip/alternate furrow irrigation method also results in increased water efficiency.
Alternate furrow irrigation can lead to more uniform soil moisture, promoting healthy plant growth and improved crop yields. Moreover, reduced water pumping requires lower energy consumption. It is also an affordable option for farmers who cannot adopt micro irrigation methods.
Ultimately, the skip/alternate furrow irrigation is simple to implement, is low-cost and requires no additional infrastructure. It is suitable for various crop types such as castor, cotton and fennel, to name a few. It encourages root growth and soil aeration.
The innovative approach demonstrates the potential for grassroots solutions, which can be replicated to address the water crisis in India.
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The lead photo shows farmer Mukundsinh Chauhan, from Pethapur village, who has adopted skip/furrow irrigation to conserve water, which in turn helps to improve crop quality. (Photo by Chirag Patel)
Chirag Dineshbhai Patel, an M.Tech in soil and water conservation engineering, works as an MIS executive at the Development Support Centre, Himmatnagar, on a water conservation project funded by the Hindustan Unilever Foundation.
