This initiative was supported by the Ministry of Agriculture from 2009 to 2012 and subsequently by the Ministry of Rural Development through International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT). The National Research Centre for Agro-Forestry (NRCAF) was providing technical support to the initiative in their capacity as a consortium partner.

The activities carried out include water resources development, demonstration of improved agri-practices, crop varieties and cropping patterns, and the promotion of farm based and off-farm sustainable livelihoods. Various facets of the initiative are described below.

Agro-forestry is being promoted in the area with about 10,000 saplings of various species of fruit and timber yielding trees planted in the farmers’ fields in 2011 alone. The fruit species include amla (Indian gooseberry), guava, lemon, karaunda, custard apple and jackfruit, and the timber species include teak, shisham and bamboo. The species and varieties that have been carefully selected are those fairly resistant to drought. In addition, the local varieties of ber (jujube or Indian plum) were budded with improved varieties to raise their yield and quality.

The use of micro-nutrients (zinc and boron) to enhance the groundnut yield was demonstrated through 20 participatory trials in the farmers’ fields in 2012. The fertilizers agribor and zinc sulphate were provided to the farmers at a cost lower by 50%. It was observed that the yield increased by 16.8% over control, with pod yield going up from 1577 kg/ha to 1842 kg/ha on an average.

To promote vegetable and forage crops for farm diversification, 44 participatory trials were undertaken during the rabi season of 2012-13 using high yielding varieties. The farmers were happy with the initial results. In addition, an improved variety of wheat, the yield of which was higher by 28.6%, was recommended to them.

In response to the water stressed conditions prevailing in the region, an improved variety of barley was sown in 140 hectares in the rabi season of 2012-13. One to three irrigations were given to the fields and the result was phenomenal as the average yield was 25% higher than that of the local barley varieties, with mean seed yields rising from 2947 kg/ha to 3686 kg/ha. Barley, thus emerges as a promising option for the water stressed region as some other alternatives to wheat require as many as up to six irrigations. Following the success of the trials, the farmers who cultivated the same variety of barley in 600 acres of top land and medium land got yields higher by 15% over the earlier seasons though the acreage of sown area increased by only 8%.

Twenty six women’s self help groups (SHG) comprising of 270 members were formed and their bank accounts opened, while ten of them have already started income generation activities such as goat rearing, vegetable cultivation, stitching etc. using loans from the revolving fund. About half of them have started repaying the loans.

The Domagor-Pahuj model watershed has emerged as a site of learning for integrated watershed management for sustainable productivity and livelihood enhancement in the Bundelkhand region. It presents a strong case for replication across the region through the concerted efforts of all local stakeholders and development practitioners.  q