Watershed Development

Watershed management is one of the major programmes of SPS. A significant impact of the work has been drought-proofing the Kharif crop. As in any typical dryland region, rainfall in our area is low, highly erratic, and characterised by long dry spells between rainy days. Water harvesting structures help farmers tide over this crisis by providing crucial life-saving, protective irrigation. We see the watershed programme as a vital public investment to incentivize private investments by even the poorest farmers on their own lands.

The approach adopted by SPS challenges conventional wisdom by recognizing that watershed development goes beyond rainwater harvesting; it also involves equitable sharing and collective, sustainable management. In instances where dams are constructed, written agreements are established concerning water sharing, pumping hours, irrigation sequence, cropping patterns, and watering intensities. Even landless households receive a fair share of the water. The emphasis on equity and transparency has often faced resistance from vested interests. In response, SPS has consistently adopted a non-violent, collective satyagraha approach, always directed towards building common ground with those in opposition.

The yield of Kharif crops, primarily rainfed, has experienced an increase ranging from 10–20%, while the yield of Rabi crops, predominantly irrigated, has shown a substantial rise of 60–70%. Collectively, the value of production for both Kharif and Rabi crops has doubled. The Benefit-Cost Ratio spans from 1.49 to 2.06, and the Internal Rate of Return on investments ranges from 30% to 49%.

Notably, there has been an observed 80% reduction in distress migration during the ongoing years of watershed implementation. The expansion of irrigated areas and increased crop productivity have led to high labour absorption in agriculture, persisting even after the closure of the watershed program. This "sedimented employment" contributes to a long-term reduction in external migration from the area. Numerous tribal farmers, who traditionally cultivated a single rainfed crop, are now cultivating 2–3 crops. Many have returned home after years to reclaim the land they had almost given up for good.

Alongside the Watershed Development Programme, SPS has also developed the concept of Participatory Irrigation Management (PIM) — recognised all over the world as a tool for improving irrigation management and the long-term sustainability of the system. The major goal is to address the "last mile connectivity" in irrigation commands and make water accessible for tail-end women farmers.

National Water Policy and State Water Policy emphasize participatory irrigation management to be adopted as an essential strategy for enhancing benefits from all irrigation projects. The government has therefore ensured the involvement of all users in water distribution and canal maintenance at the grass-root level. The other major goal is the restructuring of irrigation systems to make water management efficient. A positive aspect of this scheme is that it provides financial assistance to the beneficiary families along with the creation of community assets.