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Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci (2016) 5(2): 830-835

International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences ISSN: 2319-7706 Volume 5 Number 2(2016) pp. 830-835 Journal homepage: http://www.ijcmas.com

Original Research Article doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.20546/ijcmas.2016.502.094

Indigenous Knowledge of Local Communities of Region on Soil and Water Conservation

Manohar Pawar1*, Nitesh Bhargava2, Amit Kumar Uday3 and Munesh Meena3

Society for Advocacy & Reforms, 32 Shivkripa, SBI Colony, Road ,

*Corresponding author

ABSTRACT

After half a century of failed soil and water conservation projects in tropical K e yw or ds developing countries, technical specialists and policy makers are Malwa, reconsidering their strategy. It is increasingly recognised in Malwa region

Indigenous, that the land users have valuable environmental knowledge themselves. This Soil and Water review explores two hypotheses: first, that much can be learned from Conservation previously ignored indigenous soil and water conservation practices; second,

Article Info that can habitually act as a suitable starting point for the development of

technologies and programmes. However, information on ISWC (Indigenous Accepted: 10 January 2016 Soil and Water Conservation) is patchy and scattered. Total 14 indigenous Available Online: Soil and water Conservation practises have been identified in the area. 10 February 2016 Result showed that these techniques were more suitable accord to geographic location.

Introduction

Soil and water are the basic resources and their interactions are major factors affecting these must be conserved as carefully as erosion-sedimentation processes. possible. The pressure of increasing population neutralizes all efforts to raise the The semi–arid regions with few intense standard of living, while loss of fertility in rainfall events and poor soil cover condition the soil itself nullifies the value of any produce more sediment per unit area. But improvements made. This calls for more the man’s intervention has disturbed the systematic resource conservation efforts. It natural equilibrium and intensive and is well known to every farmer that it is the extensive agriculture has become a top soil layer, which sustains agricultural dominant factor in accelerating land production. Once this layer is lost or eroded, degradation. The ever-increasing population nothing can be done to replace it within a pressure has brought intensive cultivation of short period of time. Climate and hydrology, land to the forefront through irrigated soil topography, soil surface conditions and agriculture.

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Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci (2016) 5(2): 830-835

Fortunately, we have many indigenous . To the south and east is the techniques for conserving natural resources and to the north is the (Agarwal and narain, 1999). These have upland. been in practice for number of years as presented in the write up. Therefore there is Methodology of Study a need to enmesh these practices along with conventional soil and water conservation The research work was carried out by measures for promoting sustainable staying in the midst of the local development of agriculture. communities in their remote villages in Malwa, . The study covered Traditional knowledge and practices have 30 villages falling under 3 representative their own importance as they have stood the districts (Agar, Dewas and District) test of time and have proved to be of the region. Every possible care was taken efficacious to the local people. Some of to ensure that the villages selected for the these traditional practices are in the fields of purpose of the study were representative of agriculture such as crop production, mixed the whole district. It is sociologically farming, water harvesting, conservation of confirmed that the entire region and to a forage, combined production system, larger extent even the surrounding areas biodiversity conservation, forestry and have one homogenous traditions in terms of domestic energy etc. India is unique having habits, practices, customs, beliefs and the a rich history of traditional systems of soil overall worldview. conservation and water harvesting in almost all the states Questioning in villages was done in groups as well as in individual homes. During the Study Area research work, a variety of research techniques like, questionnaire -structured Geographically, the state can be divided into and semi-structured, informal interview, regions- Malwa, , Bundelkhand, focal group discussions (FDG), direct Chambal, and Baghelkhand, observation and participant observation were and the central Vindhya and Satpura employed. Photographic documentation was regions. The altitude varies from 300-1100 also providing a visual indication of the m ASL and temperature varies from study. minimum 0° to 45° C. The Malwa region occupies plateau in western Madhya Pradesh Results and Discussion and south- eastern (between 21°10′N 73°45′E and 25°10′N 79°14′E), Indigenous Technologies of Soil with Gujarat in the West. The region Conservation includes the Madhya Pradesh districts of Dewas, , , Jhabua, Mandsaur, Earthen Field Bunds , Rajgarh, Ratlam, Shajapur, Ujjain, and parts of Guna and , and This is the most accepted soil conservation the Rajasthan districts of Jhalawar and parts structure in the country. It is practiced at of and Chittorgarh. Malwa is large scale all over India. Earthen field bounded in the north-east by the bunds are constructed on agricultural land region, in the north-west by the with the aim of arresting soil erosion and region, in the west by the region and improving the soil moisture profile.

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Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci (2016) 5(2): 830-835

Stone Bunds sectional earthen bunds because in this system only a narrow strip of land goes of In such type of terraces bunds are formed cultivation and maintenance is almost nil. gradually by allowing erosion on the upper parts of sloping fields and arresting the soil Vegetative Peripheral Bunds/ Barriers by creating vegetative/ stone barrier on field boundary. By adopting this practice, land This is a commonly used indigenous with limited depth of soil can safely be put conservation practice in semi-arid regions. under cultivation without further Established bunds are found to be very degradation in sloping areas. effective. Barriers of lantana, Jatropha, and other small height plants are also very Stone Wall Terraces (SWT) commonly used technique in many of the areas. Stabilize the periphery of fields In some of the highly sloping areas where situated on the banks of big nalla or rivers. soil depth is a limiting factor, stone wall terraces are very common particularly in Temporary Sediment Detention Dams those areas where stones are readily available in the area. Like stone bunds the In hilly areas of Malwa region to stone wall barriers are also put across the concentrate eroded soil at appropriate slope for developing terraces on downhill location is the construction of temporary slopes. sediment detention dams. In such areas most of the badly eroded lands are found in deep Rough Stone Slab Bunds and narrow valleys, where due to high concentration of runoff the rate of soil It is found to be very effective, adoptable, erosion is very high. Under these situations Low cost indigenous technology in construction of Temporary Sediment moderately sloping (0-5%) arable lands Detention Dams (TSDD) is adopted by the where the small stone slabs are easily farmers. Suitable locations are those where available at or near the site. In this system the possibilities of sediment trapping is 30-45 cm high bunds of rough stone slabs more. (5-10 cm) thick and 45-60 cm long are put across the slope, uniformly all along the Indigenous Technologies of Water boundaries. Stone slabs are thoroughly Conservation embedded in soil one after the other in dug out furrows of 15-30 cm depth. Stone Wall for Nallah Bank Protection

Rough Stone Bunds This practice is adopted in those conditions where bank erosion is a problem particularly In the absence of the slabs simple stone in arable lands. This technique is primarily pieces of 10-20 cm thick, 45-60 cm long and used only in those areas where stones are of varying widths are also used. In due available at sites or very near to sites course of time the small gaps in between suitable cross sectional wall of loose stone is two slabs/ stones are being covered by constructed all along the bank or only at naturally occurring grasses; also acting as vulnerable sites. Erection of such protection filter strip. Some of the farmers prefer to wall is done starting from the bed of nallah have such bunds against smaller cross keeping appropriate foundation

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Sand Bag Structure (Bori Bandhan) Talai - A Small Water Storing Structure

It is easy to construct. Sand bag structures Talai is an indigenous water harvesting are constructed during peak flow across the technique Creating water point for cattle. In drainage line of field with cement bags filled this system an earthen embankment of very with soil/sand to check the flow of water. low height may be of 1-2 m is made at The runoff water is stored or checks without suitable location in a nallah/ natural drainage much seepage loss and stored water is line, where natural depression exists. The utilized for growing of crops. This is earth required in making embankment is practiced on individual basis. It was evolved also taken out from the existing depression from the creativity and experience of the for increasing storage capacity. farmers of the village. Farm Pond (Small Pond) Village Pond/ Talab These farm ponds are generally constructed This is Common rural rainwater harvesting by a farmers, whose land remain temporarily technology. Pond is constructed at suitable submerged and after monsoon. In rabi sites mainly for domestic use and also for season crops are sown as tank bed recharge of groundwater. Suitable site for an cultivation, when the water has evaporated economic viewpoint is selected by the or percolated. Stored water is sometimes villagers where the largest storage volume is drained through some indigenously obtained with the least amount of earth fill. developed surplussing arrangements for Surface runoff is the major source of feeding sowing of Rabi crops. the ponds/ talabs.

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Well policies without a concern for local environment generally fail to achieve the This is practiced by all categories of farmers desired outcomes. Today, many indigenous on individual basis. It is an age-old practice. knowledge systems are at risk of becoming In this system 2 - 5 m diameter well is dug extinct because of rapidly changing natural manually. The depth of the well varies from environments and fast pacing economic, 5 - 12 m depending on the availability of political, and cultural changes on a global groundwater in the superficial aquifer. The scale. Practices vanish, as they become adoptability is very good and the users take inappropriate for new challenges or because water from the wells for domestic use and they adapt too slowly. irrigation.

Indigenous Technologies of Soil and All these practices are based on indigenous Water Conservation knowledge. The finding of this study justify that farmers devise alternative technologies Smaller Cross-Sectional Nali Structure for increasing land productivity, as they are exposed to the risk of food scarcity due to This is most suitable soil and water shrinking per capita land holdings. The conservation techniques. In hilly areas significance findings of the study have moderately sloping land nali of about 30- important policy implications for sustainable 45 cm depth are constructed across the slope land management in the area. Any future almost on contours for enhancing in-situ land management initiative should aim at moisture conservation and also for enabling watershed settlers to adopt checking soil erosion from arable lands. As practices conducive to increase income as per the requirements of the area, a provision well as to enhance land conservation. for safe disposal of excess runoff is also kept. In some of the areas these nali like References structure are also established for controlling/ stabilizing drain. Gene Campaign (2000) Indigenous knowledge in the of Dry Stone Masonry Pond Madhya Pradesh J - 235/A, Sainik Farms Khanpur, New – 1-43 In this type of structure the upstream and Gupta, A. (1991). Reconceptualising downstream walls are constructed 3-4 m development and diffusion of apart by dry stone masonry after excavating technologies for dry regions. In Prasad a foundation of appropriate depth. The space C. and P. Das (ed.) Extension in between these two walls is filled with strategies for rainfed agriculture. locally available murrum or soil with proper Indian Society of Extension compaction. The earth fill is kept 10-20 cm Education, New Delhi. above the top of the wall to provide an extra Kerr, J.M. (1991) Farmers Practices and Soil provision for natural settling over a period and Water Conservation Programmes : of time. Summary proceedings of workshop. 19-21 June, 1991. ICRISAT, Developmental activities that tend to ignore Patancheru, India. local technologies; local knowledge Mishra PK (2002). Indigeneous Technical systems, and those which fail to formulate Knowledge on Soil and Water

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Conservation in Semiarid India, edited Singh, P.K. and Mahnot, S.C. (1995) by Mishra PK, Sastry G, Osman M, Feasibility and cost effectiveness of Maruthi Sankar GR and Babjee Rao mechanical soil working techniques N. NATP, CRIDA, Hyderabad 151. for soil and water conservation Mishra PK (2007). Indigenous Technical measures on moderately sloping Knowledge (ITK) on Soil and Water wastelands. Ind. J. of Power and River Conservation in Rainfed Areas. Valley Development July-August: Ecology, Environment and 106-109. Conservation 13(4) 207-215. Sinha et al.(2015 ) A study on indigenous Singh and Mahnot, (2004) Mechanical Soil technical knowledge about soil and Working Techniques for Soil and water conservation in northern hill Water Conservation on Moderately region of . International Sloping Wasteland, Small Farm Journal of Applied Engineering and Mechanization published by ISAE, Technology. Vol. 5 (1) January-March, Rajasthan, pp 98-101. pp.40-47.

How to cite this article:

Manohar Pawar, Nitesh Bhargava, Amit Kumar Uday and Munesh . 2016. Indigenous Knowledge of Local Communities of Malwa Region on Soil and Water Conservation Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci.5(2): 830-835. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.20546/ijcmas.2016.502.094

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