THE INITIATIVE

• Drought-proofing through farm ponds in rain-fed areas

THE BENEFICIARIES

• Landholding farmers of Karimnagar district, Telangana

THE CHALLENGE

• Rain-fed agriculture
• Low rainfall and long dry spells during monsoons
• Crop failure or poor crop yield

THE SOLUTION

• NABARD provided financial assistance to Grama Nava Nirmana Samiti under its Watershed Development Fund to take up soil and water conservation measures
• Farm ponds were created in each landholding as a lowcost solution for rain water storage
• Demonstrations were conducted to develop awareness about benefits of farm ponds
• Silt traps were provided to conserve fertile top soil and recharge groundwater

THE IMPACT

• A network of 218 farm ponds created in 3 villages
• Improvement in kharif crop yield due to critical irrigation
• Additional benefits from cultivation of short duration second crop (rabi) and fish rearing in the farm ponds