Promotion of Farm Ponds in the Catchment of Murreru River Basin –

Success Story

Introduction

Khammam region was initiated in December 2015 with four locations such as Palvancha,
Chandrugonda, Julurpadu and Kothagudem mandals in the Badradri Kothagudem district
(erstwhile khammam district) of Telangana. The project being implemented in the region is
“Contribute to Livelihood Sustainability and Food Security by Facilitating Community-
led Water Conservation in Drought hit Bhadradri Kothagudem, Telangana” in
collaboration with the ITC -Mission Sunehrakal.

About Bhadradri Kothagudem District

Bhadradri Kothagudem is spread over an area of 8951 Sq.Kms. with nearly 50 % of area under
forest, The district is bounded on the north and north east by Bijapur and Sukma districts
of Chhattisgarh state, on east by East Godavari district of Andhrapradesh State, on south and south
east by Khammam district of Telangana State and West Godavari district Adhrapradesh State, on
west by Mahabubabad district and on north west by Jayashankar district of Telangana State.

The major rivers in the district are Godavari, Sabhari, Kinnerasani, Murreru, The Godavari is the
largest river of south India flows through a distance of 180 Kms. in the district in South East
direction. The climate is comparatively equitable and although it is very hot in May with a

M.Kiran Kumar, Programme Leader and E.Mallesham, Project Executive

temperature upto 49.5C, the average annual rainfall of the district is 1,124 mm with predominant
south west monsoon.

The predominant soils in the district are Red soils (43%), Black Soils (29%) and Sandy loam soils
(28%). The district is one of the major food grains producing in Telangana with around 30% of net
sown area.

The district is one of the major districts in food grains production in Telangana. The net area sown
in the the district is 29.90% of total geographical area. Paddy, Cotton,chillies, Maize, Pulses are the
common crops during the Kharif season and Paddy, Maize, Pulses and Chilies are the major crops
during Rabi.

Irrigation plays a vital role in development of agriculture .The total gross area irrigated to gross
cropped area is 37.88%.

Objectives of the project

1. Poor and marginal farmers will have their own people institutions viz; vayalagams, AFGs,
cascade association, federations etc., for harvesting and managing water resources and
sustaining access to microfinance in agriculture

2. Stabilizing farm production through renovation of existing traditional waterbodies (tanks &
ponds) and (or) promotion of small scale waterbodies viz; farm ponds, MPTs etc.,

3. Enhancing the capacity of people, people organizations, field staff and development
professionals to handle and guide the process of development

Farm Ponds for Drought Proofing

As part of catchment treatment the project has undertaken promotion of Farm Pond in large scale
in all the four mandals of the river basin mainly to provide life saving irrigation during acute
droughts and to arrest soil erosion (occurs during runoff) which seizes the siltation of tanks in the
downstream

Farm ponds are constructed at the lower side of the fields (runoff outlet) and the runoff from the
higher side of the fields are channelized into the pond. The farm ponds are usually of two types
surface ponds and sub surface ponds

As part of the project different types of farm ponds were excavated and the major types are

1. Rectangular farm pond

2. Deep farm pond
3. Circular farm pond

Even though the purpose of all the above types are same but the impact varies because of the
various reasons

M.Kiran Kumar, Programme Leader and E.Mallesham, Project Executive

Rectangular farm pond: which is excavated in the runoff point of the field with a maximum depth
of 2.5 meters, the main purpose of the pond is life saving irrigation and arresting soil erosion

Deep farm pond: which is excavated in the runoff point in the field preferably close to feeder
channels to tanks with a depth of beyond 2.5 meters (depends on the soil condition) by providing
steps, the main purpose of the pond is life saving irrigation, arresting soil erosion and fish rearing.

Circular farm pond: excavated in the deepest point in the field where there is natural spring, this
is being promoted as an alternate to the open wells. The depth will be beyond 2.5 meters, the main
purpose of the pond is life saving irrigation and ground water recharge.

The details of total farm ponds excavated and the total expenditure incurred under the project is
given below

Name of the No of farm ponds excavated financial year Total Total

activity wise Number Expenditure in
2015-2016 2016-2017 2017-2018 Rs.
Farm ponds 26 91 80 197 7037276

Deep farm 0 45 22 67 3030846

ponds
Circular farm 0 0 4 4 223780
ponds
Total 26 136 106 268 10291902

Outcomes from promotion of farm ponds

1. Farmers are able to cultivate crop by watering even during summer

2. Farmers have started cultivating vegetables with farm pond water
3. Farmers started planting trees around the pond creating a micro eco system
4. Increased fodder availability for livestock
5. Increased drinking water availability to livestock while grazing in fields
6. Farmers have started using diesel engines and pipelines for irrigating crops
7. Availability of water for spraying of pesticides in fields saves of time and money
8. Farmers started fish rearing for own consumption and additional income
9. Soil erosion is getting reduced
10. More than 150 acres of extra area brought under cultivation

M.Kiran Kumar, Programme Leader and E.Mallesham, Project Executive

Case 1: Increased Cultivation with Deep Farm Pond

Chandrugonda mandal is located in Bhadradri Kothagudem district of Telangana State, India.

It is located at 17°26′37″N latitude and 80°28′34″E longitude. It has an average elevation of 265
feet’s above the mean sea level. The total geographical area of the mandal is 32,402 hectares.

The main irrigation sources in the mandal are 131 tanks and irrigating 32402 acres of land.
Vengalarai Sagar project and Maddukur Projects are located in the mandal are serving nearly
2690 acres of land. The second important irrigation source in the mandal is tube wells and the
depth of tube wells ranges from 120 to 150 ft. The third important irrigation source in the mandal
is lift irrigation from major drainages.

Even though the mandal has various water resources, Mr.P. Pedda Bhadraiah, farmer from
Bendalpadu village of this mandal is not having access for any of the above mentioned water
resources. He is having 50 cents of land and this is purely rain fed land. Because of his poor
economic status he was unable to dig any bore well or open well. He is cultivating Chilli and
Cotton crops depending on rainfall during the monsoon. Because of the untimely, insufficient
rainfalls he is not getting the good yield from the crops. Even though if the rainfall is good, he is
not able to use it in dry spells as he is not having any water storage structures. In these miserable
conditions his family is just surviving. This is routine in his life for past several years.

In these circumstances, he came to know about the project being implemented by DHAN
Foundation with the support of ITC - Mission Sunehra Kal in Bhadradri Kothagudem district.
He approached village Vayalagam (Bendalpadu Vayalgam Sangam) promoted by DHAN
Foundation. By attending various vayalagam meetings he understood the importance of Soil &
Moisture Conservation and Water Conservation works being proposed by staff of DHAN
Foundation hence, Mr. P.Pedda Bhadraiah has taken membership in the vayalagam and
submitted his request in the vayalagam meeting for excavation of farm pond. They also
explained about the advantages and how these structures are helpful for the farmers to combat
the drought conditions.

M.Kiran Kumar, Programme Leader and E.Mallesham, Project Executive

Mr. P.Pedda Bhadraiah got motivated and decided to excavate a deep farm pond in 15 cents of
his field. After passing a resolution in the vayalagam, with the techno managerial support from
the DHAN Foundation deep farm pond was excavated successfully. Fortunately farm pond was
filled completely within few showers of rainfall.

Particulars Before After

Crops cultivated Chilli and cotton Chilli, Paddy and fodder
No of crops One per year Two per year
Total area cultivated 35 cents 50 cents
Water sharing Nil
With neighboring farmers 5
farmers based on water
availability
Income Uncertain
Approximately Rs.45000 per
year
Confidence level Low
Very high

The total expenditure incurred for excavation of farm ponds is Rs. Out of which 80% was given
by the project and remaining 20% was contributed by farmer.

Deep Farm Pond Paddy cultivation with pond water

M.Kiran Kumar, Programme Leader and E.Mallesham, Project Executive

Case 2: Profitable Agriculture with Farm Pond

Chandrugonda mandal is located in Bhadradri Kothagudem district of Telangana State, India.

It is located at 17°26′37″N latitude and 80°28′34″E longitude. It has an average elevation of 265
feet’s above the mean sea level. The total geographical area of the mandal is 32,402 hectares.

The mandal is having various issues like drought, crop failure, ground water depletion etc., to
overcome these farmers area going for bore wells but it is not being affordable to small and
marginal farmers

Mr.G.Buchanna is a farmer from Bhimunigudem village of this mandal having 2 acres of land,
he is completely depending on monsoon for agriculture. Because of his poor economic status he
has was unable to go for bore well or open well. He used to cultivate Paddy depending on
rainfall but because of erratic rainfall he is not getting good yield. He was getting only 22 bags of
paddy per acre and an income of Rs 22,000 in a year. In these miserable conditions his family
was just surviving.

The farmer is a member of ‘Bhimunigudem Vayalagam Sangam’ promoted by DHAN

Foundation under ITC - Mission Sunehra Kal project. He attended various meetings and
trainings organized by DHAN Foundation and understood the importance of various water
harvesting structures to address drought.

Mr. G.Buchanna was decided to excavate a farm pond with the support of the project, after
getting approval he executed a farm pond in his fields with techno-managerial support from
DHAN Foundation. The size of the farm pond excavated was 20*20*3 meters with a capacity of
1000 cubic meters. The pond got filled immediately after excavation and he used the water to
irrigate his paddy crop during dry spells (3 to 5 times) and got an yield of 34 bags and his income
was shoot up to Rs.44000 per acre.

The total cost incurred for the farm pond is Rs.77000, for which the farmers has contributed 20%

M.Kiran Kumar, Programme Leader and E.Mallesham, Project Executive

 Farm Pond Fish rearing in Farm Pond

Additional benefits:

 He has taken up fish rearing in the farm pond and got an additional income of Rs.15000
 Social identity by showing his pond as model to other in the same and nearby villages
 Confidence level increased
 Joined Agriculture Finance Groups promoted by DHAN Foundation for savings, crdit
and insurance

M.Kiran Kumar, Programme Leader and E.Mallesham, Project Executive