WATERSHED DEVELOPMENT A SELF SUCCESS STORY

BY SHRI. BHABHULBHAI's MYTH BREAKS

I am a farmer belonging to Darbar Community of Sanala Village. I own total 50 Bigha Land. This 50 Bigha land is without water facility. In my family there are in all eleven members. All my family's burden is on me and all my family is dependent on me. As a result of irregular rainfall in monsoon and because of no measure to control or accumulate water, I had to suffer loss in farming. However, officials of GRISERV and the more knowledge able and awakened committee of our village in association with the beneficiaries group of our village, constructed a Checkdam near Randal Mataji's Mandir (Temple).
During this monsoon, when only once the rain water filled in it, the water level in my two wadi rose upto 30 feet. As a result of rise in the water level this year 45 Bigha land was irrigated & cultivated with cotton.

After the construction of Checkdam, irrigation facility is easily available therefore I have cultivated Cotton - 4 to 5 times. The total production of Cotton is 70 Quintal & amount received from the sale of cotton is Rs. 1,40,000/- as a result I have saved Rs. 1,00,000/- in a year, due to this it was possible for me to start the plaoughing work in my third wadi. At present, even during Summer, Green grass fodder is available to the animals, water remains upto 15 t0 20 feet in winter season.
As a result of above benefits due to Checkdam, my desires of many years have been fulfilled. The village people follow my example. The change in the situation of so poor Bhabhulbhais earlier position to the present position has became a Live example for others in the village.
For all these efforts received from the organization ( BAIF - GRISERV ), and their officials thanks a lot and wish to look forward more such activities are taken by the organization in the future.
Mr. Bhabhlubhai Tapubhai Vala.
SANALA, Tal. Kunkavav, Dist. Amreli.

THE COST OF WELL RETURNED

Myself Shri. Laljibhai Ramjibhai Akbari, a resident of Amrapur Village and my land lies / stretches on the way to Barwala. I have wadi also. The depth of the under ground well is 80 feet; still I cannot do any kind of irrigation. However, this year, under Watershed Development Programme and in association with committee, I constructed a Check bund on the stream flowing near my far (Wadi), when the Check bund was not build, during that time, even in the rainy season, the water level in the well use to rise very insignificantly. On my total 18 bigha land only groundnut was cultivated, income was also nearly about Rs. 30,000/- only. As against this, this year due to construction of Check bund, water level of the well has risen even upto nearly 40 feet. The winter, summer and rainy season's crops have fetched full returns. In addition to this, this year, Onion was also sowed on the 2 bigha cultivable land, out of this an income of about Rs. 96,000/- has been earned.
This year, due to increase in the income, out of the savings, the repair work (Plaster work), of our declining house, since year, has been done. My financial position has been improved for better and in the future I expect that on my 18 vigha land adequate irrigation facility will be available from this check bund only.
My crop production of rainy season will not at all be without profits Truly & it I would have earned profits much earlier.
Shri. Laljibhai Ramjibhai Akbari,
Amrapur

DEEP PLOUGHING & IMPROVED SEEDS CHANGE THE FORTUNE

Shri. Chimanbhai Chamtabhai Vasava who lives interior village Ladkuva of Mandvi Taluka of Surat district. He owns 2 acres land and a large family of seven members. The drudgery of illiteracy and meaningless traditions as well as lack of improved implements had kept him under poverty. He used to borrow means and seeds for agricultural work and the output was very poor, which was never sustainable and the whole year his family had to undergo hard laborites life for livelihood.
After coming in contact with C.E.C. staff workers in 1997, he got a new approach. His land was surveyed and with the help of deep ploughing with tractor he and his family was guided to compost and cow dung manures to soil. It was the first time they used for their own land ! Chimanbhai contributed his share of Rs. 150/- against the Project provision of Rs. 600/- for the ploughing. He was given right training of improved variety of crops. GJ-38 Jowar, was introduced to him. But his traditional mind had many doubts about the growth and output. With improved variety of seed h was supplied 35 Kg., D.A.P. Fertilizer.
The result was that his farm become a temple for his family ! The surrounding farmers and other people praised his labour.
In one acre he got the yield of 500 Kg. Jowar, 800 Kg. Paddy & 60 Kg. Peanut - which estimated total gain for Rs. 4,180/-.
He says never before in his life time he ever got such output. Really the improved seed, New technology and implements as well as guidance and training from CEC staff has brought a remarkable and astonishing change in his life-style and yet their an opened new hopes and horizons.

VEGETABLE FOR TRIBAL FARMER LIVELI HOOD

Mr. Vijay Singh is 25 year old tribal poor farmer from Kambodia village. His all family members work own 1.5 acre agricultural land .He grow vegetables last two year (a single crop in a season method) and used traditional cultural practices and sowing own their seed, being a measure one. Normally that seed is prepared by them from the rejected fruits ,which are infected by diseases and insect-pests and become useless due to infection .

When the family survey was done in the village by KVK staff ,the training needs of the farmers and farm women were also assessed .In one of such interaction by the KVK staff ,he discussed the low production problem and expressed his desire to attend the training imparted by KVK on vegetable cultivation methods and nutritious kitchen gardening. Utilizing the opportunities, he attained training programmes on vegetable cultivation methods, including application of chemical and organic fertilizers, control of insect-pests & diseases. He has gained all the knowledge of controlling insect-pests & diseases with new improved cultural practices by consulting the KVK staff time to time.
Mr. Vijay Singh now grows vegetables in his own land of 0.8 acre .he invest Rs.3892/- and got Rs.19000/- from brinjal, papri, tomato, from same land (within July -Sept'99).Where as he invest Rs.2280/- in previous year and got Rs. 7700/- as income only by growing a single crop papri. The enhanced income by vegetable cultivation Mr. Vijay Singh proves to be an admirable model young farmer to the villagers.

DON'T THROW AWAY THE UPLIFTING LADDER PERHAPS YOU WILL NEED IT

ADVANTAGES

GRISERV has always a glorious view for the poor and down-trodden people that hey should be well settled at their home with a good and prosperous way of self-dependent livelihood .The following stories the example of this view, it suits for its - GRISERV mission and ideas.

She has built a row and small house with the help of milk and cattle selling income. She has purchased 2 acres of land. She is growing vegetable in this land which helps her in daily life .Now she is self supporting with the help of the cow, which has brought her upstairs.