Case Studies

sectors > Agricultural Productivity
Mines to Water Reservoirs
UTTAR PRADESH

THE INITIATIVE

  • Innovative utilisation of wastelands

THE BENEFICIARIES

  • Villagers and farmers residing within a 400 acre radius in Dudhai village, Lalitpur district, Uttar Pradesh

THE CHALLENGE

  • Quarrying activity which was forcing farmers to abandon agriculture and migrate to urban areas
  • Acute water scarcity
  • Ensuring availability of water for agricultural operations

THE SOLUTION

  • NABARD extended support of ` 11.84 lakh to the Pragya Mahila Bal Kalyan Gramodhyog Sewa Sansthan for a unique area-specific project which aimed to improve agricultural productivity by recharging groundwater in abandoned mines
  • 2 abandoned sandstone mines were transformed into large water reservoirs by cleaning and channelling them
  • Ensuring community participation in project design and implementation

THE IMPACT

  • Increased agricultural yield due to availability of water during monsoons and winter
  • Reduction in migration of the local workforce
  • Reclamation of abandoned agricultural land
  • Reduction in the mortality rate of livestock due to availability of drinking water