Food Security Portal: Partnership & Policy Dialogue

Naireeta Services Private Limited www.naireetaservices.com April 25, 2015 Patna

Bhungroo- An innovative water management technology for ensuring food security to poor, smallholder farmer families in disaster affected areas

Monsoon (Rainy season)- water logging

Initially 1-2.5 mt After 12 days nearly 0.5 mt

After 25 days nearly 0.05 mt

Severe Drought

Summer (dry season)- Drought

Severe Drought & Water Scarcity

Deteriorating soil quality, crop loss & salts

Impact on Farmers

Heavy Rains- Crop failure

Winter - soil fertility decline

Summer – no irrigation & salt deposition on soil

Solution- Bhungroo “Bhungroo” (‘Straw’ in English) World Bank’s IDM 2007 awarded technology A filtered injection method for water collection from water logging

Saves standing monsoon crops Guarantees food security Guarantees winter crops

Technology details Bhungroo works on filtered injection method Creates water lenses due to density variation between filtered surface and sub-surface layers Top soil gets free from water logging Guarantees survival of standing monsoon crops In winters (the cash crop period) the farmers lift the injected water from subsurface storage for winter irrigation from a lesser depth

RESULT Plots which were perennially unproductive for decades produce at least 2 crops from the very first year. Salt deposition at top soil gets reduced= desertification curtailed.

Currently NSPL has created more than 9 technical designs of Bhungroo to suit various agro climatic zones viz. 411 mm to 1700 mm rainfall variations can be attended

Highlights of Bhungroo Technology Makes land productive from year one Retains 40 to 80 lakh liters of water Supplies 30 to 50 Lakh liters of water for winter irrigation Guarantees both monsoon & winter cropping Doubles farmers income in less than a year Brings the poor farmers above poverty level Enables poor farmers to have dignified life with food security

Bhungroo Income :

Hence within first 24 months Bhungroo breaks even! (whole process is climate change mitigating & chemical- free)

In monsoon:

15 acres of land is served with 1 Bhungroo 5 acres of land is saved from water logging 15 acres are supplied with critical period irrigation Soil salinity is reduced Total food crop quantity from 15 acres Possible income INR 2 Lakh (minimum)

In winter :

20 acres of land is served with irrigation Cash crop from 20 acres Possible income INR 5 Lakh (minimum) Total income from each Bhungroo per year approx 7-9 lakhs

Bhungroo & Food Monsoon Saving of root zones from excess water Irrigation supply at critical irrigation period Monsoon crop survival Food crop survival Grass cultivation Winter Guaranteeing of adequate irrigation Cheaper irrigation Winter crop guarantee

Gender centric process

I

• Poverty assessment by village level SHGs (Antodaya)

• SHG’s assessment approval from PRI

• Water sharing promise note and work sharing promise note

II

• Cluster level cross checking

• Site visit and approval

• Commune/Group formation

III

• Technical evaluation

• Site finalization

• Local feedback

IV

• Work management by women

• System maintenance by women

• Water sharing by women

Success principle

1 • Trust building within community on technology

• Local SHGs are key players

2 • Limiting our role within water only

• Give freedom to community to decide their cropping

3

• Gender own cropping process- food, grass, optimum water distribution

• Maintenance of the assets by women

4 • Subsequent seasons introduction of intercropping

• Value addition in cropping

Bihar path

BIHAR Innovation Forum II

Designing of BHUNGROO for soil-climate zones Capacity Building of local community Interlinkage with other systems

Thanks