Raising of Seepage Water Technology A Case Study of Irrigation Channel Improvement in Ratu River System -8 Rajabas, ,

1. Building Resilience of Vulnerable Communities in Ratu Watershed through Strengthening Disaster Preparedness

and Climate Change Adaptation Measures Program in Mahottari & ,Nepal

2. Climate Advocacy Network Nepal : Strengthening Civil Society Organization and Community Response to Climate change Program in Mahottari & Dhanusha District,Nepal

Ratu Watershed: Upstream of Mahottari District Municipality # 6 , Rajabas Safe  

Narrative Progress Report (1st October – 31st December 2012)

Project Partners

Project Number: P323-004/2012 KH 2668 Final Project Progress Report - 2015

Community Development and Advocacy Forum Nepal Bardibas Municipality-4 Gauridanda, Mahottari Cell No.: +977 9854022997/974403659

Email: [email protected]/[email protected]

Raising of Seepage Water Technology A Case Study of Irrigation Channel Improvement in Ratu River System Gauribas-8 Rajabas, Mahottari District, Nepal

1. Background Nepal is divided into five physiographic regions: , Bhabar, Chure hills, Mid-mountain and high mountain. Among all the physiographic regions, the Terai, Bhabar and Chure exhibit the close relationship as upstream, midstream and downstream based on the River System Management (RSM) of Nepal. The proposed area of case study falls under the Chure region of Ratu River System in between the Mahottari and Dhanusa Districts, Nepal. To arrest the land degradation in the Chure, Bhabar and Terai Region, the Government and non-governmental organization of Nepal has been implementing many projects over the last few decades. These projects pioneered for watershed/river system management by developing technical packages based on different models. In fact, considerable variation in the concepts of implementation, the organizational structures and the degree of people's participation are found among the projects in the study. The project of the Community Based Disaster Risk Reduction (CBDRR) has focused its effort on disaster risk management using the participatory approach. Since the CBDRR's participatory approach has been found note worthy in different reports as a best example of participatory for disaster risk reduction and profit maximization through the construction, utilization and management of irrigation channel through the raising of seepage water in Nepal, which was chosen for this case study.

The economy of Nepalese people is based on agriculture but, the management of cultivated land and used rural technology are highly traditional. In fact, more than 70% of the total population depends on subsistence farming. The Nepalese have strived hard in order to overcome the harsh physiographic environment and raise crops successfully. Lack of irrigation facility and depletion of water resources through the seepage to sub surface is one of the outstanding examples of battling the severe impediments to farming. The population of Nepal including the study area is increasing day by day and in order to meet the increasing demands of the growing population for food, fodder, timber, and fuel-wood, marginal lands are being cultivated. Consequently, many forest and shrub lands have been degraded and also destructed through encroachment. Farm lands in the hills and mountains are classified as upland (bari) and lowland (khet). Whereas, upland farms are rain-fed and planted with crops like maize, mustard, wheat, millet and buck-wheat. Lowland areas are usually irrigated and planted with paddy and mustard.

2. Objectives of the study The main objectives of this study are:  to find the historical background of cultivation in the Chure region  to trap the depleted water resources in river system as irrigation facility  to find the importance of irrigation channel for the economic development of farmer.  to study and analyze people's participation in irrigation system improvement.  to manage the local resources properly with the sustainably and collaboratively.

- 1 - 3. Site description Ratu is a boarder river, located between the Mahottari and Dhanusa district. The Community Development and Advocacy Forum Nepal is implementing the Community Based Disaster Risk Reduction (CBDRR) program under the cooperation of the Caritas Nepal/Germany in Ratu River System since 2013. All total, there are forty Village Development Committee (VDC) either falls the total or partial area in Ratu River System (RRS). The Gauribas VDC of the Mahottari district is located in the upstream of RRS towards the northern direction from the East-west highway. In this VDC, there is a small village namely Rajabas at the river terrace of Ratu River, which is the site of this case study. There are two river terraces in Rajbas; upper and lower whereas upper terraces have settlements and lower terrace falls under the cultivation as irrigated khet lands. The area of river terrace is flat, south facing and highly populated in between the Forest and RRS. Mulkulo is the irrigation facility of the lower terrace and command area of this channel is more than 60 hectare. The location of improved channel is shown in Figure 1, below.

Figure-1: Location of Irrigation Channel Improvement with its Command Area in Ratu River System

The climate of this village is sub-tropical and humid and marked by monsoon rainfall. The pre- monsoon period is generally hot and dry and sometimes there are hailstorms. The average annual rainfall is about 1500-2000 mm which occurs mainly from May to September. The mean peak temperature in July and August is 35.5°C and falls around 5°C in January.

- 2 - The cropping patterns are greatly affected by soil, altitude, and irrigation. The main crops are paddy, maize, millet, and wheat in rain fed cultivation and Paddy, wheat, maize in lower terrace, but seasonal vegetables are also grown. Raising livestock is a major occupation as economic activity in the river system. In spite of the time involved in collecting fodder and looking after the livestock and other social costs, raising livestock is profitable. Livestock is also the main source of manure for improving soil fertility and draft power for ploughing.

The total population of Rajabas village is 536, which belongs to the 270 female and 266 male within the 95 households of locality. But, the number of farmers as member of user group of the Irrigation System (Mulkulo) is 73 HH and dominated by ethnic groups and practicing religions in Hinduism and Buddhism. Due to economic, social and ecological pressures, the local people are forced to leave their villages for short and long-term employment. The lower castes often work as seasonally paid labors in the village.

4. Concept of Seepage Water Rising Background An irrigation channel is a waterway, often man-made or enhanced, built for the purpose of carrying water from a source such as a lake, river, or stream, to used for farming or landscaping. It can be dug into the ground and then filled with water, or an existing stream can be widened in a process called "canalization," and diverted as appropriate to provide maximum efficiency. The channel improvement for the rising of seepage water was constructed focusing to the irrigation purpose of lowland. At first, this concept was developed by the farmers themselves to fulfill the shortage of water to the purpose of irrigation in their farm. When they searched the water inside the river courses of Ratu River found to be high in the depth. Hence, there were no any perennial sources of water in the River and drying at the early of the winter season. But, the source of seepage water was found to be perennial in the sub surface even in the winter and dry season also. Therefore, the users Mulkulo in Rajabas village was trying to raise the water to the surface since long time.

Water discharge in previous Rajabas is a river terrace with higher potentiality of crop production, but there was no any system of winter cultivation in the command area of Mulkulo even in lowland due to lack of irrigation facility. In another hand, the river flooding in monsoon season was common in the Ratu River. The major event of flood disaster in Ratu River were 2050, 2060 and 2061 whereas, these events were damaged a huge number of life and property of local people. After the flood event of 2061, Ratu River become very wide and the problem of yearly bed rising was started. Previously, there were many water sources around the Rajabas village even in the small torrents also. But, the remained source of water is only one at present. The remaining water sources are also arising at the end of August and drying soon after the winter.

Water discharge at present They have enough water for the monsoon cultivation, but not enough water for the winter/dry cultivation before using latest technology for irrigation (seepage water raising system). Therefore, the farmers of the Mulkulo are arranging the individual turn for the irrigation. According to the farmers of Mulkulo, the main reason of water seepage in Ratu River are 1) deforestation with reduction of vegetation coverage in upstream, 2) sedimentation in river channel and its tributaries, 3) changing pattern of rainfall, 4) increasing ratio of runoff instead of infiltration to the sub surface etc. Based on the above circumstances, the technology of seepage water rising for the irrigation was developed by the farmer themselves through the

- 3 - construction of deep channel in 2064. Later, the CDAFN a non-governmental organization (NGO) has developed a technology for the raising of seepage water through the irrigation channel improvement.

Cropping pattern According to the water users group of the Mulkulo, the total volume of water in previous (before the seepage of water) and present (after the raise of seepage water) are similar, but the pattern of river flow (as surface and sub surface) became the differences. Previously, the crop cultivation was only one for the majority of lands and only few have two, but they are producing three crops after raising the seepage water at present. The major crops are paddy for main crops, wheat for second crops and maize/millet and paddy for the third crop. But the few farmers are producing the spice crops and vegetable using the water of the Mulkulo. The location of structure across the Ratu River for the seepage water raise are shown in Figure 2 and top view of channel is shown in figure 3, below.

Figure-2: Glimpse of Irrigation Channel Improvement across the Ratu River nearby Rajabas

5. Result and discussions Size and status The construction of Mulkulo for the raising of seepage water was started since 2013 and continues in this year also, under the financial and technical assistance of Caritas Nepal/Germany with local contribution. The design of main structure for the control of seepage water was cutup wall (RCC) in down side and gabion wall as filter of water in upside of the channel in the river coarse. However, the construction materials for the seepage control structure are cement, rod, sand, pebble, boulder, gabion and earth materials etc. The dimensions of constructed structure from the point of water entry are length 196m, width in water way 0.8 m, and 1.8 m in height. The command area of the Mulkulo is more than 70 hectare in the monsoon season and 52.92 hectare for the winter season based on the availability of water in the River. The Glimpse of Irrigation Channel Improvement through seepage control in Rajabas and its sections are shown in Figure 5 and Figure 6, respectively.

- 4 - Figure 3: Glimpse of 1) front and 2) back view of Irrigation Channel Improvement in Rajabas

Figure 4: Glimpse of 1) first and 2) second crops after ICI in Rajabas

Contribution of Stakeholder The total cost of Irrigation channel Improvement for the seepage control was NRs 2,112,000.00, which was contributed by the different stakeholders either in cash or in kinds. Among all the contribution of stakeholder, the people's participation of farmers with cash contribution as Bighuti was very high (37.5%) and the contribution of Caritas Nepal /Germany, Li-Bird, CFUG and VDC Caritas VDC was 31.25%, 31.25%, 19.06 and 12.94%, 10% Nepal/ respectively. However, the collection of CFUG Germany contribution as fund of Irrigation channel 14% 24% Improvement through seepage control is a good practice for the large sizes project of rural community, which was the result of best Li-Bird practices of stakeholder networking and 24% coordination. Therefore, the model of people's People's participation with cash contribution of Contributi stakeholder is replicable for the various region of on (Cash Nepal. The detail cash contributions of & Kinds) stakeholder for the improvement of Irrigation 28% channel through the seepage control are given in Appendix-1 and its percentage are shown in Figure 5, below. Figure 5: Funding in ICI in Rajabas

- 5 - Direct Benefits of the Farmer The benefits of Irrigation Channel Improvement through seepage control can be divided in to two parts; 1) direct and 2) indirect. The direct benefits of Irrigation channel Improvement are 1) Irrigation facility for cultivation, 2) drinking water for wildlife, 3), drinking water for domestic animais,4) irrigation facility for vegetable and cash crops, 5) recreational opportunity for tourism etc. This Irrigation Channel Improvement is under the construction and going to complete within this the few months. The total area as command area of irrigation channel improvement was 53.92 ha. and more than 90 percent area was under the one crop. Among all about 50 percent was irrigated since last year. A comparative study of direct benefit was carried out between the before and after the irrigation channel improvement in last month and the difference was found to be; 1) The Cropped area under the command area of the irrigation channel improvement was increased by 233.25 percent due to the area conversion from one crop to two and three. 2) The crop production from the command area of the irrigation channel improvement was increased by 334.16 percent due to the area conversion from one crop to two and three with the quality and quantity improvement. 3) The estimated income of farmer after the irrigation channel improvement was increased by 247.65 percent due to the area conversion from one crop to two and three with the quality and quantity improvement.

However, the direct benefits of the farmers after the ICI through the raising of seepage water was found to be too much either through the improvement of quality and crop production or increasing the number of crops in same lands. The detail of comparison of cropped area, quantity of crop production by two or three crops and increased the income of farmer due to the increment of value and production rate are given in Appendix 1, 2 and 3 and status are shown in Figure 6, 7, and 8, respectively.

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Figure 6: Comparison of Command area 1) before and 2) after the Irrigation Facilities

- 6 -

Figure 7: Comparison of Production; 1) before and 2) after the Irrigation Facilities

Figure 8: Comparison of Income; 1) before and 2) after the Irrigation Facilities

The indirect benefits of irrigation channel improvement are numerous and can be available for the various group of people with hundreds of settlements in the downstream by the control of sediment discharge and flash flood. In another hand, the program of seepage control through the irrigation channel improvement can be provide the indirect benefits except the human beings are as follows:  Availability of drinking water for Wildlife and Bird of locality.

- 7 -  Environmental protection through the promotion of greenery.  Support on the control of gully, landslide, torrent and riverbank cutting in downstream.  Increase the label of water-table in downstream by recharge from the upstream of river system.  Support on conservation of drinking water sources due to increasing the infiltration.  Protect highly fertile land from the desertification i.e. Terai  Develop a model of people's participation and stakeholder contribution on natural resource management.

8. Conclusion and Recommendation The irrigation channel improvement through the raising of seepage water is an alternative option to supply the water for the crop production in cultivated land. Irrigation with the drinking of livestock and wild animals especially for the Siwalik region of the Nepal. In another hand, it helps to reduce the soil erosion and promote the greenery area.

The total cost of Irrigation channel Improvement for the seepage control was NRs 1,105,000.00, which was contributed by the different stakeholders either in cash or in kinds. Among all the contribution of stakeholder, the people's participation of farmers with cash contribution as Bighauti (the traditional custom of collection of capital for social welfare based upon quantity of land) was very high (52%) and the contribution of Caritas Nepal /Germany with CDAFN, CFUG and VDC was 25%, 18% and 5%, respectively. However, the collection of contribution as fund helps seepage control through Irrigation channel Improvement is the best example of people participation. Therefore, the model of people's participation with cash contribution of stakeholder is replicable for the various region of Nepal. The main source of national income depends on agriculture. Within the study area, the Ratu aquifer is recharged by rainfall on upland areas that infiltrates to the aquifer directly and surface water that seeps lowland through wetland sediments to the aquifer. We must balance ecosystem restoration efforts with the needs to maintain adequate water supplies for public and agricultural use and to prevent flooding. With most irrigation water distribution and application systems, some water is applied in excess of the soil and becomes ground water that reenters the stream or river or flow overland surface channels or drainages to the stream or river. The availability and distribution of water are the primary determinants of the character of all natural ecosystem and all modern economies. Society is dependent upon a plentiful supply of water for agricultural uses. There is increasing concern about how future demands for water can be met , given that some watersheds are already over appropriated and that constraints on development of small–scale projects are significant.

Therefore, the irrigation channel improvement through the raising of seepage water technology is an important for the conservation and livelihood upliftment in the rural society. In another hand, the model of people's participation and matching fund collection from the stakeholder are also replicable model for the community development and disaster risk reduction in the disaster prone area of Nepal.

Appendices

- 8 -

Appendix 1: Cash Contribution by Stakeholder for the Irrigation Channel Improvement

SN Name of Organization Amount NRs. Percent 1 Caritas Nepal/Caritas Germany 500000.00 23.67% 2 Li-bird 500000.00 23.67% 3 Village Development Committee (VDC) 207000.00 28.41% 4 Community Forestry User Group (CFUG) 305000.00 14.44% 5 People's Participation and cash contribution (including 600000.00 Bighauti) 9.80% Total 21,12,000.00 100.00

Appendix -2: Comparison of cropped area between before and after the Irrigation Channel Improvement Number of Crops Area (ha) Area (%) Remarks Before After Before After 1 crop 49.00 5.62 90.88 10.41 Conversion: 2 crop 4.92 24.77 9.13 91.87 1 ha=13.6kattha 3 crop 0.00 23.54 0.00 130.96 Total 53.92 53.92 100.01 233.25

Appendix -3: Comparison of crop production between before and after the Irrigation Channel Improvement Number of Crops Production (kg) Crop Production (%) Remarks Before After Before After 1 Crop 48885.00 8760.00 99.03 17.75 Conversion: 2 Crop 480.00 64400.00 0.97 130.46 1 Muri=60kg 3 Crop 0.00 91800.00 0.00 185.96 Total 49365.00 164960.00 100.00 334.16

Appendix -4: Comparison of income between before and after the Irrigation Channel Improvement Number of Crops Incomes (NRs) Income (%) Remarks Before After Before After 1 Crop 1,987,440.00 227,760.00 88.58 10.15 Conversion: 2 Crop 256,000.00 2,292,640.00 11.41 102.19 Paddy: 92 3 Crop 0.00 3,035,520.00 0 135.30 Corn: Wheat:

Total 2,243,440.00 5,555,920.00 100.00 247.65

- 9 - WATER MIRACLE VILLAGE: RAJBASH

Rajbash; a beautiful village in lap of Chure range less water had created a frightening pictures leading along the corridor of Ratu river, is situated in to disaster. Baridibas municipality, Mahottari. This village has Initially the village used to be in low land near the now become a model village for other village of Chure Ratu river. Villagers still remember the floods of 2002 range with a bizarre example of water resources & 2003 which had swept 2 hectare of land and force management. The success of the village is due to well them to shift the village to the uplands of Rajbash. In management of the water resources through raising the uplands, people used to grow hardy crops like of the seepage water for the irrigation purpose and finger millet and maize where in lowland people used drinking purpose, water harvest ponds, to grow rain-fed paddy. People used to harvest just on bioengineering for risk reduction and capacity crop due to lack of proper irrigation facilities. The building of the villagers through group approaches. vegetable farming was just a matter of stupor due to While seeing the past, scenario was totally in contrast the lack of water. Even drinking water was a matter to the present prosperous Rajbash. As being in the lap of serious problem for the Rajbash. The production of fragile Chure, Rajbash used to face different from the village was insufficient for the villagers. natural calamities like flash flood, land cutting in rainy They had to migrate to nearby city for the earning. season and extreme drought in dry season. Flash The water related disaster had really aggravated the flood prone Ratu river and Jharayo torrent were two life of people. major water bodies for Rajbash having too much But the devastating scenario of Rajbash continued water in rainy season causing flood, landslide, no longer as Community development advocacy agricultural land cutting, raising the river bed in the forum Nepal (CDAFN), Bardibas, implemented downstream through the debris sedimentation. In project Community Based Risk Reduction funded by contrast, there used to be to less water in dry season Caritas Germany and Caritas Nepal. Under the creating no option of livelihood. Due to the effect of project, CDAFN in coordination with local the climate change on water, too much water and too stakeholders develops a water management models for the wisdom used of the available water resources. “it is blissful movement for Rajbash people that after It basically works in three models for making the construction of pond, we are growing all round water available for irrigation and drinking purpose. In vegetables in this dry land which was never thought”. the first model, it constructed underground canals For the precise use of the harvested water, the along the Ratu river which raise and collect seepage irrigation system is linked with many other plastic water and make it available for irrigation purpose. ponds, drip irrigation and sprinkle irrigation. People There are three canal (named: school canal, sep canal are selling vegetables and saving the incomes from and bagar canals) which is enough for irrigating 130 vegetables in Sayapatri Income Generating Groups. hectare of land. Second models was also raising of Similarly Sita Budathoki share a pain story that it was seepage water for drinking purpose. In third model, like a battle to find water for drinking but after the rain water harvest pond was constructed by digging construction of Parsaidap drinking water scheme, the Jharayo torrent. The pond has multi utility of there is no any problem for drinking water . Similarly, harvesting the rain water, controlling the flood and in low lands, after the construction of the recharging the ground water. The pond has capacity underground canals, villagers have sufficient amount of holding of 40 millions litres of rain water which is of water for harvesting three crops in a year. Rajbash use for irrigating the uplands during dry season. In has been now a centre of educational visit for order to reduce flood, landslide and sedimentation, different college and organisation working in DRR and spur and check dam was constructed along with Climate changes issue. CDAFN is planning to develop bioengineering. In all these activities, there was it as DRR and Climate Adaptation field school. valuable contribution of other stake holders and Present Rajbash village is happy and beautiful climate community. After the approaches of making water adaptive village. The disaster created from too much available and reducing the risk, project activities were water and too less water has been a story of past. directed for the strengthening capacity of community Still amount of rainfall is same but the way of water through different water based livelihood option. management system has changed resulting in the Project has supported in the community based prosperity of the village. The effective community organic vegetable farming by providing necessary based water management system has changed the vegetable production training, IPM training and water and food deficit village to water and food seasonal seed support. Ram Bhadaur Thapa shares sufficient village.

ENDEAVOUR TO RENOVATE THIRSTY VILLAGE TO WATER SMART VILLAGE: DEVI BAHADUR KARKI

Devi bahadur Karki, 51 years old, living in Bahunmara condition of village and was looking for away to of Dhanusha District, has 5 members in his family. renovate his thirsty Village. The family has 0.33 hectare of land for cereal Devi bahadur karki find away to fulfill the thirst of cultivation where as 0.06 hectare land for vegetable Bahunmara village as Community development farming. In the past, he used to grow only one cereal Advocacy Forum Nepal (CDAFN), Bardibas, i.e. rice under rain-fed condition. Due to lack of implemented project Community Based Risk irrigation facilities, it was impossible for him to Reduction funded by Caritas Germany and Caritas produce enough food for a year in spite of his hard Nepal. Under the project, CDAFN in coordination work. In addition to the food deficit, he was also with local stakeholders and community develops facing the problem of drinking water as well. The underground seepage canal and drinking water tanks. effect of climate change had not spared any water Devi bahadur karki played pivotal role in empowering resources of Bahunmara Village causing chronic crisis community, collection of local contribution and even of drinking water. Lack of water for drinking and work as mason in the construction process. For irrigation was not only the problem of Devi bahadur irrigation, underground seepage canal was karki, but was severe problem for whole villagers of constructed along Ratu river which is enough to Bhaunmara. The villagers had gone through a lot of irrigate of 76 hectare of lands. Similarly, for drinking hideous stories of water scarcity in its previous time. water, underground seepage intakes was constructed Female and children were assigned to fetch the water in Bohoree torrent and 2 fero cement tanks of were which was tedious and even had risk of snake bite. constructed in Bahunmara. This tanks has capacity to Villegers were forced to drink impure water by which collected 5000 litres of water which is enough for they used to suffer from diseases likes diarrhea, 123 HHs. After the construction of the canal, the dysenteries and cholera. Karki experienced a bitter rain fed farming has changed to irrigate farming by truth of death of nehbiour due to cholera. Devi which Devi bahadur karki now cultivate 3 crops ( bahadur along with whole villagers of Bahunmara rice- wheat- maize) in a year . Devi Bahdur karki says” were forced to live dejected life without water. Devi we used to buy wheat and maize of about 30,000 in a bahadur karki was very much worried with the year but now we do not have to buy them rather we grow them in our own field. In addition to this, organisation had supported for the construction of pond (0.01 hectare) in his own land for the irrigation purpose. After the construction of the pond, he started the vegetable farming in 0.06 hectare after receiving vegetable farming training form organisation. In addition to this, he had received sprayer tank, poly house and seeds of vegetables according to the season. He annually sells about vegetable of 20000 and save the income in Ratu agriculture cooperatives. He also produces the seedlings and distributes the cooperative members and motivates them for vegetable farming. He had also started commercial mushroom cultivation and had planned to earn from it as well. After good earning, he had increased the size of the pond to 0.06 hectare where he had started fish farming in the pond. He even is socially active and is working as chair person of Bahunmara drinking water and sanitation group. Similarly, he is former chair person of Ratu agriculture cooperative and member of kalikhola CFUG. In present, frightening picture of scarcity of water does not exist in Bhanunmara. As water leads to prosperity, now each and every house is facilitated with tap and declared as Environmental Friendly house by the municipality. In addition to this, Bahunmara village is declaring as open defecation free village. Female are very much blissful with this change as they get rid of fetching off the water. As like Devi bahadur, many villagers are now engage in income generating activities like vegetable farming, animal husbandry and poultry. Devi bahadur has establish himself as a role model in his village. The hard work of Devi bahadur karki had renovate thirsty village to water smart village.

related structures and earthquake-resistant buildings. The cash injection coming from daily wages was life-changing Natural disasters forced Surya Bahadur Karki to start and allowed Surya to save money for the purchase of a anew already two times. When nearly 20 years ago new piece of land. severe landslides destroyed 2,5 hectares of his farmland, The 0,6 hectare of land purchased by Surya was a low- he saved up money working as a mason and purchased a value piece along the river side, deemed useless by the small amount of land in Khadkule village to restore his locals due to the frequent flooding of the area. But the farming activities. The floods and landslides ranging the Caritas programme made every effort to turn what was area in 2003 forced him to leave all his property behind considered a wasteland into fertile soil, promoting riverbed and seek a new life in Rajbash. But the new farming activities and constructing gabion walls to further beginnings were far from rosy. Water scarcity protect the area. “Thanks to the embankment, I am not and general hostility of the new social environment put going to lose my land again,” Karki says and immediately mentions that he can now grow three types of crops – rice, Surya in a more difficult position than ever before. wheat and millet – as the underground irrigation canal and “Back in time, my reality in Rajbash was harsh. As the land a water harvesting pond constructed in the first stage of would constantly get stricken by droughts, there was no the project supply enough water to feed his fields. way to cultivate vegetables. The only crops we had back To encourage vegetable cultivation, Caritas equipped the then was millet. It was really difficult to survive,” farmers with a set of new tools and farming recalls Karki (49), a father of two. A Caritas-funded inputs, opening a new farming chapter in the area. “I grow project focused on strengthening the local communities’ cauliflower, cabbage, cucumber, bottle guard, tomato, PAVINGresilience opened FEETS a windowTOAWRD of opportunity DIASASTER for Surya FREE and mushroom,FUTURE: SURYA radish, BAHADUR chilly, just KARKI to name a people facing similar livelihood conditions. Within the few,” enlists Karki. Having succeeded in his framework of “cash for work” activities they got a chance own production, he distributes extra vegetable seedlings to construct new infrastructure for the common good, but amongst other villagers and encourages them to start as also earn significant income that gave a new well, sharing knowledge and experience. “I was forced to impetus to their own households. buy vegetables, now I am a producer myself,” he states proudly. “It brings me profit of 25-30 thousand rupees Constructing the future annually. I am a member of a local Sayaptri income Working hand in hand with his fellow community generating group, where I can save my money. Lately my members, Surya Bahadur Karki contributed to savings allowed me to purchase additional 0,16 hectare of the construction of new water land.” harvesting ponds, drinking waters tanks, Undergrounds ca nals and check dams. The programme also provided him with additional trainings on the construction of water

I had a dream In Surya’s case, economic growth goes hand in hand with social empowerment. From a distrusted newcomer, he has grown to be an esteemed member of the local society: he coordinates the maintenance of the irrigation channels and solar batteries powering the water pumps; is an active member of different community management groups, as well as valued mason – having received an additional training on the construction of earthquake-resistant houses, Karki has now gained fame as a specialist in the field. As everybody values his expertise, leadership skills and commitment, people from nearby villages call for him to settle any arising disputes. Surya says he feels that we all have a moral obligation to work towards a better tomorrow for our own societies and is determined to remain active in his community. He plans to further expand his agriculture production to turn it into an even more profitable business. When asked about his biggest dream, he answers without hesitation: “I have built many earthquake-resistant houses. Now I want to build one for my own family.”

Diversity of Vegetables Ensuring Family Nutrition: Ratna Maya Magi

It is needless to say that the effect of climate change had Caritas Nepal. After being the member, she knew about not spared any one through the chronic drought during dry the climate change and different techniques to adapt to season. Among such victim, Patu village is one of them and the adverse effect of climate change. Among the consider as one of the most desiccated village in Bardibas techniques, she adopted collection of the grey water in Municipality. Patu village is situated in upland having no plastic ponds. The water used for washing dishes and fate of irrigation resulting impossible circumstances of clothes was being collected in the ponds which later on farming. In Patu, there is habitation of Magi group who were used for the irrigation purpose. In addition to this, are considering as Janajati-backward community. Among she also received vegetable farming training, IPM training, them, 53 years old Ratnamaya Magi of Kakarbitta tole, drum for the bio- pesticide and plastic tunnel for nursery Patu has set an example of adapting with drought. She is and different kinds of vegetables seeds from the living happily with her husband, son, and daughter in law organization. After the irrigation facilities, she had and a grandchild. She only owes 0.6 hectare of upland converted barren land into a beautiful home garden full of without irrigation facilities. Her son and husband work as diverse vegetable. She grows radish, cabbage, cauliflower, carpenter which is their main source of livelihood. Whiling beans, cowpea, brinjal, okra, bitter guard, bottle guard and seeing the past, she had gone through the severe problem different types of cucurbits. This diversity of vegetables of crisis. Due to lack of irrigation facilities, the land was left also helps her to adapt with the adversity. She said, “If barren. Income from her husband and son was not males from houses go for earning, we used to eat sufficient for them to run their livelihood smoothly as most vegetables otherwise we had to eat only rice and pulses. of the income was invested in buying vegetables. But now we consumed diverse vegetable every day”. She also added that after consuming vegetable she had got rid She was able to convert her barren desiccating land into of dizziness and weakness. She finds diverse vegetables as productive greenery land when she became member of source to nourish her family. She has incorporated her Kakarbhitta income generating farmer’s group formed by vegetable farming with the IPM technologies. She joyfully CDAFN, Bardibas under Strengthening Community said “I use local Resilience program funded by Caritas Germany and plants like banmara, ashuro, tite pati, khirro, sayptri, bhojo , timur, cow urine, cow dung for the formation of the botanical pesticide and botanical pesticides are effective in controlling pest and also add manure in soil”.

Ratnamaya Magi said delightfully, “We used to invest about NRs.3000 to 4000 per month for vegetables but now we sell vegetables about NRs. 5000 to 8000 per season. This organization has set a new path for us and the continuous follow up with advice is most fascinating part of this organisation”. She saves this amount in her own group. Ratnamaya Magi is just a representative of kakarbhitta tole. Now many female members from the group are engaged in organic vegetable farming. In previous days, female from Magi caste used to be engaged in local alcohol preparation but now they are engaged in farming. This caste used to be ridiculed as drunkard group but now they have become inspiration for nearby villages through vegetable farming. They have also developed the habit of saving for the future purpose. She gleefully shares “We used to be exploited by the money lender with high interest rate but now we get loan in nominal interested from group. The saving activity was very helpful for her as she took NRs. 20,000 during the delivery time of her daughter in law. Everyone has realised that saving is indispensible to fulfill future need. She shows direction for all the members in the meetings and settles the disputes that arise in the meeting through concrete solution. Her husband, Ram kumar Magi, feels proud to introduce himself as spouse of Ratnamaya Magi.

Ratnamaya Magi who had never thought of farming in her dry land, has now started growing nutritive vegetables. Her life illustrated that such type of approaches of growing diverse vegetable really helps small land holding farmers. Such approaches ensure to adapt with the effect of climate change and ensure the food and nutritional security. She achieved victory over the drought through collection of gray water and was successful in producing green diverse vegetables even in small dry land.

Triumphant search of prestigious life in society: Bishnu Maya Pariyar

Bishnumaya Pariyar, 52 years old, is living a pleasant by Community Development Advocacy Forum Nepal life in Rajbash Village, Mahottari with her 2 sons, (CDAFN), Bardibas under Strengthening Community daughters in law, 6 grandchildren and husband. The Resilience program funded by Caritas Germany and main occupation for the livelihood for her family is Caritas Nepal. After engaging in the group, she had a agriculture and sewing clothes which is their lot of benefit that turn her life to opulence. She traditional occupation. For agriculture, they have 0.16 receives vegetable farming training, mushroom hectare of upland and 0.23 hectare of low land. While training, irrigation pipe, sprayer, IPM tools, and seeing the past, in spite of their hard work, from both different kind of vegetables seed. Now she has occupations, it was hard for them to survive. Based on established herself as an active vegetable growing rainfall, they used to grow maize and finger millet in farmer. She has plastic pond of dimension 4*5*1 m3 uplands and rice in low land. Due to lack of the and use the water of pond for vegetable farming. The irrigation facility, replenish of harvest from the plastic pond has become oasis for her as it is helping available land was not sufficient for family and had to her for irrigation in upland and having good replenish buy food from market. In addition to this problem, of vegetable. After the construction of under-ground being Dalit was another social problem for them as canal, the low which used to have only one crop they used to be exploited by the villagers. The harvested, now provide harvest of paddy, wheat and biasness was so extreme that created feeling as if potato. The amount of crop harvest is now sufficient they were not a part of society. Lack of drinking for her family. She said, “We used to consume water, lack of irrigation and lack of good income and luscious vegetable only in occasion but now we daily social biasness had busted their life. have a variety of vegetable”. She added, “In Rajbas, we used to batter vegetable with maize and finger Bishnumaya Pariyar, used to think of engaging in the millet at a ratio 0f 1: 3 from merchant but now we income generating activates and help his husband produce our vegetable our self”. She also added, “We which comes true as she became member of have-not seen such type of merchant nowadays as Sayapatri income generating farmer’s Group formed our village is self-sufficient in vegetables”. In initial days, her husband Dal bahadur Pariyar used to rebuke when she is out of house for group meeting but nowadays instead of rebuking, he is eager to know what Bishnumaya Pariyar, learnt from the meetings. She used to get afraid of speaking with people in village but after being engaged in the group, she confidently presents her idea in the meetings. She said, “This group has given a platform of sitting together and eating together which has abolish the system of biasness to Dalit”. People who did not eat being touched by her now buy vegetables from her and praise her activities. She now finds her dignity and value in the society and proudly says, “We are also part of this society”. She even had started mushroom farming after receiving the training. This year, she earns 10,000 from the vegetables and mushroom. She saves her income in Sayapatri income generating farmer’s Group. She uses the income in the study of her grand children which has developed good relation with her daughter in law. She had plan for the commercial mushroom farming. Her husband is helping her in every endeavor. Her husband is happy that Bishnumaya Pariyar, is helping her for generating income which has made the couple to run the household activities smoothly. Bishnumaya Pariyar, is now active member of Sayapatri income generating farmer’s Group and get involves in the communities meetings and presents her idea confidently. She develops herself as a role model for her communities. She has shown that female also can earn and became bread feeder for family. Despite of different kind of discrimination, her toil results in triumphant search prestigious life in society.

Report of Raising of Seepage Water

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Model: 1 Fish Farming Solar irrigation Rain Water Cutting of Landslide Harvest High value crop High Profit Flood Agricultural Land Risk of forest fire ( conservation Pond) ( Controlling Flash Flood Animal husbandry Prone Torrent, gully, landslide) Water Resource management Water- “the destroyer” Adaptation & Water- “The Life” Mitigation

Increase For crop Model: 2 Irrigation intensity from 1 to 3 Safe Water Raising of the Water borne Drought Seepage Water disease free, Reduction in Technology drowsary For Time for other business Food insecurity Drinking Water Girls are going 2 school

Details of the seepage Canal Being Scale-out by Different Stakeholder

S.n Underground seepage Cost and stakeholders before Cost and stakeholders for scaling out new work done for Total Irrigated dalit Janjati BCTN Total o irrigation canal Adaptation @ scale ( 1st stage) of our initiated work ( During the adaptation @scale length of Area in HHS HHS HHS HHS period of 2nd Adaptation @ Scale) after 1st stage canal in km biga

1 Sep Canal, Rajabas, CDAFN/Carita: 52,000, libird: CDAFN/Carita:300000, Libird: extension of the 3.25 82 11 47 16 74 Mahottari 3,00,000, Ura CFUG: 3,39,000, 2,00,000, Bardibas canal, Irrigation Bardibas Muncipality:2,26,300, Muncipality:50,000, Local division office local people:8,00,060 people:1,55,000 , Adaptation provided 90 lakhs for @scale: 50,000, District Irrigation the scale out Office: 90,00,000, Community: 600000, 2 School Canal, Rajbas, CDAFN/Carita::7,00,000, Libird: Irrigation Division Office : 90,00,000, extension of the 2.5 67 9 37 18 64 Mahottari 450000, Ura CFUG: 4,50,000, community contribution: 2,00,000 canal, Irrigation Bardibas Muncipality:2,26,300, division office Local people:7,82,060 provided 90 lakhs for the scale out

3 Lota Canal, Dhanusha Libird; 3,00,000, DADO: 3,00,000, extension of the 1 86 2 49 21 72 lota CFUG:1,50,000, Mitihila canal Municipality: 1,00,000, local contribution: 2,00,000

4 Dudhpani canal, Libird: 2,50,000, Carits: 2,00,000, Irrigation division office, Dhanusha: extension of the 3.5 102 39 25 15 79 Dhansusha community: 1,70,000, 300000 canal Muncipalilty : 1,50,000, Chure Dudhpani upabhookta irrigation canal: 1,70,000

5 Chure kulo, Dhanusha CDAFN/CARITAS: 1,03,803, extension of the 3.5 93 18 25 37 80 Libird: 2,00,000, CFUG:1,00,000, canal Municipality 1,35,000, Community: 1,50,0000 6 Parsai overhead Canal CDAFN/CARITAS: 2,00,800, overhead canal is 0.28 20 5 31 4 40 dhanusha Municipality 51,504, CFUG: new innovative idea 13781, Community:1,16,506 constructed above the flood prone torrent

7 Geruke irrigation canal, CDAFN/CARITAS: 4,00,000, Bangaha 4 95 13 79 23 115 Mhottari Municipality 400000, Community: 2,78,950 Details of the Canal Constructed

S.No Underground Cost and stakeholders Cost and stakeholders new work done Total Irrigated dalit Janjati BCTN Total seepage irrigation before Adaptation @ scale ( for scaling out of our for adaptation length of Area in HHS HHS HHS HHS canal 1st stage) initiated work @scale after 1st canal in biga stage km

8 Bahunmara canal, Cdafn/Caritas:8,99,200, Cdafn/Caritas:4,00,000, use of the prize 3 114 10 34 79 123 Dhanusha libird: 4,00,000, District Irrigation division: money as seed Irrgation division Office: 2,00,000, money and 2,00,000, Mithila muncipality:5,00,000,, collected fund for Muncipality:2,26,300, Kali local people:4,50,400, the new Khola CFUG : 4,21,000, local Adaptation Scale: 50,000 construction of people:1,67,307 canal

9 Kalapani canal, Cdafn/Carita:5000, Caritas: 1,00,000, 2.5 107 9 23 45 77 Mahottari Kalidamar Bhahune Jhora Kalidamar Bhahune CFUG,1,50,000, Bardibas Jhora CFUG:1,00,000, Municipality: 1,00,000, Local people : 1,50,000, Community: 1,70,000 Bardibas Municipality: 1,00,000, Community: 1,50,000, Adaptation Scale: 1,00,000

10 Bagar Canal, Adaptation @ Scale: 1.2 40 8 52 12 72 Rajbash, Mahottari 1,00,000 : CFUG: 1,00,000, community 3,20,000 ( cash: 200,000, kind: 12,0,000, ) 11 Bishambar Irrigation Adaptation @ Scale , use of the prize 2.5 104 10 68 17 95 Canal, Dhanusha 2,00,000 ,Caritas: money as seed 2,51,000 ,Mnicipality: money and 2,00,000, Community collected fund for Contribution: 1,50,000 the new construction of canal

Total 27.23 910 134 470 287 891 5

Under Ground Seepage Canal Rajbash, Bardibas

4 Under Ground Seepage Canal Bhisambar, Dhanusa Under Ground Seepage Canal Rajbas, Mahottari Under Ground Seepage Canal Kalapani;, Mahottari

Under Ground Seepage Canal Bahunmara, Dhanusa Drinking Water Kalapani;, Mahottari Innovativeness in Canal: Same Canal Use for Drinking & Irrigation Purpose

Location: Bahunmara Same seepage canal for Drinking and Irrigation

Drinking Water( before Adaptation @ scale Prize ( 1st stage of protsana puraskar)as model s.no location Cost and stakeholders) Description of the Dalit Janjati ( BCTN ( total Structure ( HHs) HHS) HHS) HHS

Caritas: 1,00,000, CFUG: 1,00,000, 20 36 62 118 1 Bahunmara drinking water Muncipality: 50,000

Newly made Drinking Water( After 1st stage of Adaptation @ scale ( Scale out)

Caritas: 2,38,478, , Municipality: capacity of Reservoir tank 25000 ( 2 Dudh Pani Drinking water, Dhanusha 2,53,818 Community: 99,312 liter 39 25 15 79

protection cut of wall, pipe line, Caritas: 3,00,000, Municipality: intake, no of tap:4 , capacity 40000 3 Rajbash Drinking Water,Mahotari 1,00,000 Community: 86,000 35 109 73 217 liter

Municipality: 2,00,000 Community: 4 Mathilo Bhaunmara, Dhanusha 20,00,00 intake, pipe line, source protection 6 14 28 48 Adaptation @ Scale: 50,000

Caritas: 187,484 Municipality: 980014 source protection, 25,000 litre rvt , 5 Chure Drinking Water, Dhanusha Community: 2,75,052 pipe line extension 36 6 43 85

Librd :30,000, Caritas; 20,000, 6 Patu Drinking water Community 23,000 5 23 3 31

86 intake, source protection., 25,000 Caritas: 1,56,000 Community: 14,0,000 7 Bapsi Drinking Water, Mahottari liter tank 31 40 15

Adaptation Method to Effect of Climate Change

Raising of Seepage Water for Drinking Purpose “Rajbash” 18 Adaptation Method to Effect of Climate Change

Water for Drinking Purpose & Home Garden “Patu”

Adaptation Method to Effect of Climate Change Raising of Seepage Water for Drinking Purpose “Bapsi” 20 Adaptation Method to Effect of Climate Change

Raising of Seepage Water for Drinking Purpose “Chure” 21 Innovation in Livelihood

• Under this approaches, all the groups are provided with the Saving and credit mechanism in which they save the income generated through income generation activities ( Goat farming & Vegetable Farming). They are also provided with 20,000 as income revolving fund which are used for income generation which glimpse are as follow. Use of Revolving Fund for Income Generation

Use of Revolving Fund for Income Generation

Use of Revolving Fund for Income Generation Use of Revolving Fund for Income Generation 101 SUSTAINABILTY • Without any community benefit, conservation of the natural resources does not lead to sustainability. Sustainability of the conservation totally depends upon the local people. If local people earns the livelihood from the conservation activities, then only local people involves in conservation activities. With the same principle, our organization is conducting conservation program along with the income generation activities with the optimum utilization of the natural resources. For example, the ponds are linked with vegetable farming, duck and fish framings. As people know conservation leads to the income generation, they will self conserve the nature. In addition to this, capacitating local people is major pillar for the sustainability. Our organization follows the same rule. Now each village has masons for the construction, repairmen and maintenance of Climate smart Structure (canal, ponds and drinking water). • Each livelihood groups and user committee are linked with government stakeholders and most of the groups have their livelihood improvement plan. • Use of local materials and low cost technology in the construction activities helps in sustainability as they can be in easy access • Engagement of the local people right from start ( Problem Identification, Prioritization, site Selection, Implementation, Construction and searching of matching funds, Public contribution ) help in development of the self ownership which is prime pillar for the transparency and sustainability • Engagement of Government in each and every step of project activities • Capacitate local people by mason training in construction repairmen of climate smart structure. • Capacitate local people in income generation activities help in financial stability leading to sustainability