How Kitchen Gardens Change Lives in Drought-Prone
Village of Bundelkhand

Recurring droughts are a major challenge in India, especially in the drought-prone areas. As agricultural activities like rainfed cropping and livestock are the major sources of income for over 64% of the population of Uttar Pradesh, we need to understand the rural farming community׳s perception of drought impacts on their socio-economic activities and environment, their adaptation at the household level and their opinions on government’s drought mitigation measures.

The most immediate economic impacts of drought include decrease in the yield of cereals, horticultural crops, livestock production and loss of employment, all associated with decreased income of farmers. Social impacts include population migration, malnutrition due to changed food preferences affecting health and schooling of children, a pervading sense of loss and hopelessness and conflicts in society over water.

Interventions

Development Alternatives launched a NABARD-funded watershed programme in Budpura village of Jhansi district in 2017. A village watershed committee was formed for the implementation and management of the project component. The committee would be accountable for the implementation of the identified activity in the area, while Development Alternatives would shoulder the responsibility of project management and providing technical assistance.

The project is changing the lives of people like Rajwati, a 46-year-old woman from Budpura. She is the sole breadwinner of her family of five, including a one-year-old child. She has one and half acres of land to support the family but its yield was inadequate, and she had to work as daily labour for more than half of her time to meet the daily needs of the family.

In 2018 she became part of the project. She was advised to grow vegetables and pulses in a corner of her field. She was also given demonstration and necessary training. The kitchen-garden in a half acre of her land not only met the requirement of vegetables and pulses for her family but also strengthened her capacity to lead the process of change. Seeds, training and technical expertise provided under the intervention propelled multidirectional impact in strengthening the livelihood and health of her family.

Rajwati describes the support she received as a pathfinder, empowering her in dealing with demands of life through utilisation of land for different agriculture practices. She said that she is able to make an extra income of about Rs 1,000 per month from the kitchen garden with minimum input or investment.

"With added income, I needed to spend less time for daily labour work and I could devote more time to the youngest child," she said, with a big smile and a sense of satisfaction.

Impact

• Increase in income (For Rajwati, it was 40% up through vegetable farming)

• The value of land has increased due to increased productivity

• mprovement in health of the beneficiaries, as they can stay on in the same place with sufficient food and need not migrate

Way forward

With such dramatic benefits taking place before their eyes, the community gains in awareness and self-confidence. They are looking forward to promoting vegetable farming in the village.■

Rishabh Singh
rsingh@devalt.org