| |
|
EASTERN HIGHLANDS |
|
|
| |
|
Jaldhar
Model
To harvest rain and save paddy crops from frequent rain failures,
a team of Professional Assistance For Development action (PRADAN)
has found a simple solution termed Jaldhar. In this technique, a portion
of the farmland is left aside for rainwater harvesting, holding back
rainwater in the land itself. Depending upon the land type there are
two variations of design. One design is applicable to small plots
where slope is less than 2 per cent and the other design is applicable
for plots where slope is between 2-8 per cent and for slopes greater
than 8 per cent, the technology may need some little modification.
The five percent model: The main objective of this model is to
ensure that all small land holdings should have their own water
body for harvesting rain. These pits are usually 1.5 square metre
in size, occupying 5 per cent area of individual fields. The plot
is levelled properly and bunded to allow water to accumulate to
a height of 100mm, this pit also facilitates the subsurface flow
of water to downstream plots and improves the moisture regime of
the area as the whole.
The jaldhar 30x40 technique: The name comes from calculations done
in terms of feet. Lands having an average slope of 3-5 per cent
upland areas are divided into smaller plots and the water collection
pit is dug in each plot. The pit area should consist of 3-4 per
cent of an individual plot with depth around 1 m and located at
the lowest point of the plot.
Plots should be chosen in a staggered fashion so those pits are
also staggered as far as possible to enable uniform seepage of water
across the slope. Each plot size is maintained at 9m (along the
slope) x10.7 (across the slope), hence area of each plot will be
111.5-130sqm. The volume of each collection pit is around 3,000
litres.
Read more about Traditional
Techniques
<<back
|
|
|
