STRENGTHENING THE CAPACITIES OF RURAL

COMMUNITIES TO ADAPT TO CLIMATE CHANGE IN

SEMI-ARID AND RAINFED REGIONS OF

MAHARASHTRA MAHARASHTRA

Who We AreWho We Are??

Watershed Organization Trust (WOTR), an NGO was established in 1993.

Our Philosophy:

Land degradation and water scarcity are the most intense and commonly felt

needs of village communities that can bring diverse and competing groups of

people together to begin their development process.

Our Goal:

To reach out to 1,500,000 direct stakeholders and cover 1,000,000 hectares

(2,500,000 acres) by the year 2015

Our Vision:

Communities, especially the poor within, are empowered to live in dignity and

secure their livelihood and well-being in sustainable ecosystems.

WOTR’SWOTR’S Area of OperationArea of Operation

• No. of People directly impacted:

• WSD - +822,000

• SHGs - 92,100

• No. of Partner NGOs - 184

• No. of Watershed Villages - 1026

• No. of Project Villages 2172

• Total Area Covered (ha) - 596,000 ha

• No. of People Trained - 225,000

WOTR’sWOTR’s Core Areas /CompetenciesCore Areas /Competencies

• Integrated Water Resources Management / Watershed Development /Natural

Resources Management

• Capacity Building & Institutional Development

• Women’s Empowerment, Health and Environmental Education in Schools

• Knowledge Management and Dissemination

• ICT : Application of IT, Communication and Documentation

• Policy Advocacy , Networking and Linkage Building

• South to South Exchanges

• Consultancy Services

New Areas of Interventions:New Areas of Interventions:

- Renewable Energy for Rural Households

- Community Based Rural Tourism

- School for Sustainable Living and Livelihood

- Climate Change Adaptation

Policy ImpactsPolicy Impacts

� Capacity Building as a separate and pre-qualifying phase now adopted in all

Government as well as donor funded WSD projects.

� The National Watershed Development Fund (NWDF) set up by Govt. of India

at NABARD based on this approach.

� Participatory Net Planning (PNP) adopted by various state governments and

other projects

� Has permission to treat Govt. Forest land under IGWDP & WOTR projects

� Government of Maharashtra adopted the handholding approach of WOTR

involving NGOs and facilitating agencies as well as PNP for WSD.involving NGOs and facilitating agencies as well as PNP for WSD.

� The Rajiv Gandhi Watershed mission (MP) adopted the PNP & Village

Envisioning methodology. AP too has taken up PNP.

ReplicabilityReplicability

� All NGOs trained by WOTR have undertaken government and other

watershed development projects.

� 4 Village Development Committees have taken up watershed development

projects neighboring villages

� WOTR has assisted projects in Tanzania and Kenya and implemented this

approach in Boroma district in Somaliland & now in Malawi

70 % of Maharashtra is arid, semi-arid, hot sub-humid; 85%

agriculture is rain-dependent

The Problem: The Problem: Water Scarcity and Land DegradationWater Scarcity and Land Degradation

Today 1.7 billion people are water stressed around the world, by 2025 the

population would be over 3 billion.

58 % of India is arid, semi-arid, hot sub-humid; 70% agriculture

is rain-dependent

30% of the Earth is semi-arid & 20% is hot arid lands

The Problems: Water, Fodder and Fuel Scarcity, The Problems: Water, Fodder and Fuel Scarcity,

Unproductive Lands, Distress MigrationUnproductive Lands, Distress Migration

The Problem: The Problem: Poverty , Fractured CommunitiesPoverty , Fractured Communities

Watershed Organisation Trust (WOTR) 10

The Indian Sub-continent: a Hot spot or many hot spots

Arid Zone Pakistan, Afghanistan and Western India

Himalaya

The Middle Hills of the Himalaya

Ganga Basin:

Coastal regions

The Deccan Plateau

According to Professor Goswami (2008) of IITM

Instead of Indian monsoon being stronger and wetter, there is a potential for monsoon to go to a mega-drought state with high frequency of severe drought through nonlinear feedback within the climate system. the climate system.

VulnerabilityVulnerabilityVulnerabilityVulnerability of of of of thethethethe poorpoorpoorpoor

Climate effectsIncrease in droughts, floods, cyclones, mudslides

Geographical exposurePoorest areas

The poor:most exposed to

Vulnerability factorsBio-physical & Socio-economic

Impacts• Food and water insecurity• Increased forced migration• Incidence of diseases • Ecosystem changes

most exposed toworst impacts,least able to

cope

Source: adapted from IPPC, 2001, 2007; Tyndall & IIED, 2003

The Local Context to be AddressedThe Local Context to be Addressed

• Weather variations – disturbance in the regular weather patterns

(droughts and drought like situations: delayed monsoons, increased dry spells

between rains; sudden cloud bursts and unseasonal rains, floods for the down

stream villages)

• Natural resource base for livelihoods – Heavy dependency on natural resource

base with tiny percentage of people depend on non-land based income sources. Distress

migration and migration for work during the summer months.migration and migration for work during the summer months.

• The Current attitudes: individualistic survival approach resource

exploitation with no care for tomorrow; survive on what one gets today – let tomorrow take

care for itself

• The isolated village approach

• Large number of vulnerable people: (1719 out of 4314 HHs with land less than 1 ha)

Livestock & Milk Production

150

200

250

No.

of L

ives

tock

800

1,000

1,200

1,400

1,600

No.

/ M

ilk in

lit.

Impact Details

Livestock and Milk Production (1996 – 2009)

-

50

100

Year

No.

of L

ives

tock

-

200

400

600

800

No.

/ M

ilk in

lit.

Av. Milk prod ( daily) - - - 241 653 662 788 550 490 378 360

Cross breed 14 15 19 39 58 85 113 97 88 40 51

Indigenous Cow 170 148 91 117 96 100 101 85 65 60 200

Sheep 1,323 1,017 1,092 1,172 1,301 992 434 610 604 510 1,487

1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2005 2007 2008 2009

Our ResponseOur Response

An Action Research Approach ProjectAn Action Research Approach ProjectAn Action Research Approach ProjectAn Action Research Approach Project

The Project Area Location MapThe Project Area Location Map

Wateshed Features and Villages Sangamner Clusters

Project Area and ScopeProject Area and Scope

• Project area: 25 villages

• Direct impact: approximately 4314 HH of 23,345 persons of which:

• STs are 1905 HHs (44%)• SCs are 260 HHs ( 6%)• OBCs are 279 HHs (7%)• OBCs are 279 HHs (7%)• NTs are 83 HHs (2%)• Others are 1787 HHs (41%)

• Total Project Area: 18,503 ha (185 sq.kms)

• Area Previously Treated: 8,634 ha (47%)

• Treatment not required: 1,976 ha (11%)

• Net Area to be Treated: 7,833 ha (42%)

Project Area

• The project area is widely representative - agro-climatically, demographically, economically and vulnerability wise - of most of rain-fed agrarian India where the bulk of the poor live.

• It represents 2 of the 9 agro-ecological zones of the state [Zone 5 (Transition Zone 2) and Zone 6 (the Scarcity Zone)] and covers 40% of the state.High congruence and relevance to Zones 3, 4 and 7. Altogether cover over 75% of the state.

• Areas selected are culturally and ethnically different (tribal and non-tribal), represent different levels of backwardness and integration with the wider economy

• Area is reasonably well connected, accessible, not far from major markets, close to taluka HQ and close to Mumbai and Pune.

• WOTR has long presence, substantial works, close relationship with the people and governance framework – trust, relationships and credibility is crucial to success of this project

The Project: Goals and ObjectivesThe Project: Goals and Objectives

Overall VisionOverall Vision: Food, water, livelihoods and income security and an improving quality of life

to vulnerable and disadvantaged communities on a sustainable and equitable basis is

ensured.

Overall GoalOverall Goal: To build the capacities of vulnerable communities in clusters to adapt to climate

change, contribute to mitigation and undertake measures to reduce poverty and improve

well being on a sustainable and equitable basis.

Specific Objectives:Specific Objectives:

• Understanding how locally experienced climate related variations/ changes affect

agriculture and livestock productivity levelsagriculture and livestock productivity levels

• Development of climate smart tested approaches and best practices that can be quickly

adopted by village communities and up-scaled.

• Development and promotion of livelihoods that are resilient to climate variations and

promotion o f technologies and practices that enhance the productivity of water,

agriculture, livestock and livelihoods.

• Development of tools and IT enabled systems to validate, assess and adjust initiatives that

seek to promote adaptation as well as capture additionalities.

• Generation of knowledge from field experiences and its widespread dissemination with a

view to policy change.

• Support the Government of India’s National Action Plan on Climate Change.

Emissions

Concentrations

Climate Change

Climate Variability

Non Climatic Factors

MitigativeCapacity

Non Climatic Drivers

Mitigation

Implementation

Facilitation

Framework for Vulnerability and Climate Change Adaptation

Change Variability

Exposure

Impacts

Vulnerability

Sensitivity Adaptive Capacity Adaptation

Implementation

Facilitation

Political and Institutional Structures and Changes

Climate Variability and Change

Economic , Social and Cultural Structures

Contextual Vulnerability – Starting point Evaluation orInternal Social Vulnerability

Climate Change

Contextual Conditions

Institutional Socio Economical

Biophysical Technological

Contextual

Vulnerability

Project Responses

WOTR’sWOTR’s Engine for CC Adaptation…Engine for CC Adaptation…

Interventions & Measures…Interventions & Measures…

A. Promotion of Climate Change Adaptive Behaviour

and Disaster Risk Mitigation

• Participatory, Comprehensive and Integrated Ecosystems

Management along Watershed lines

• Integration of Biodiversity Concerns in Adaptation Measures

• Promoting Food Security through Sustainable Agriculture• Promoting Food Security through Sustainable Agriculture

1. Micro-Farming /LEISA/IPM/INM/IMM/ SRI

2. Agro-Meteorological-Hydrological Monitoring For Advisories

3. Development of integrated crop- micro-irrigation systems linked

to agro-meteorological conditions.

4. Sustainable livelihoods

5. Gender and women’s empowerment

Regenerating Natural Resources and Regenerating Natural Resources and Promoting Sustainable LivelihoodsPromoting Sustainable Livelihoods

Watershed Organisation Trust (WOTR) 26

Stone BundsStone BundsStone BundsStone Bunds

Land Treatments: Catching Rainwater Everywhere!Land Treatments: Catching Rainwater Everywhere!

Drainage Line Treatments: Water ConservationDrainage Line Treatments: Water Conservation

Impacts On Food Security, Livelihoods and EducationImpacts On Food Security, Livelihoods and Education

Interventions & Measures Interventions & Measures (contd)(contd)

B. Promotion of Renewable Energy

• For household cooking and lighting

• Green field/ Emerging Technologies....

C. Capacity Building, Knowledge Generation, Dissemination and Policy Dialogue

C. Capacity Building, Knowledge Generation, Dissemination and Policy Dialogue

• Training, Experience Sharing and Advisory Services.

• Action Research and Communications (Print, Audio-Visual, Electronic, Publications).

• Development of Tool Kits, Indicator Sets and Technology enabled Monitoring systems.

• The School of Sustainable Living and Livelihoods (SSLL)

• Policy Advocacy and Dialogue

Bringing the Village TogetherBringing the Village Together

Watershed Organisation Trust (WOTR) 31

How this is done: Coming together to regenerate the How this is done: Coming together to regenerate the

EnvironmentEnvironment

� Village institutions are involved / set up:

• The General Village Body (Gram Sabha of all adult members)

• The Village Council and the Village Development Committee

(representative of all communities including landless poor)

� The Village chooses to implement the project (self-selection)

Agree to non-negotiable disciplines

(representative of all communities including landless poor)

• The Women’s Self-Help Groups & their Apex Body

• The Forest Protection Committee & others

What is done: Community EngagementCommunity Engagement

� Village Envisioning for developmental activities

� Designing and Planning the project, step by step

� Capacity Building

� Implementation

� Maintenance of Accounts, Records and Reporting

� Participatory Impact Monitoring & Peer Group Assessment

Key Issues consciously addressed:

� Inclusiveness and equity (community takes responsibility)

� Gender Sensitivity

� Transparency

What is done: Important Aspects for continued Important Aspects for continued

Community Engagement & SustainabilityCommunity Engagement & Sustainability

34

� Transparency

Plan for Sustainability:

� Maintenance Fund

� Water Budgeting

� Quality Education & with an eco-systems focus

� Linkages with government and other service providers

� Addressing related issues (eg renewable energy; rural tourism)

Snapshot of Some Planned

InnovationsInnovations

Integration of Biodiversity Concerns…

• Ecosystems – the natural basis of human

beings – should be enabled to naturally adapt

to climate change

• Need for a toolkit• Need for a toolkit

– To facilitate the integration of biodiversity

concerns into climate change adaptation projects

36

Livelihood

Resources

(5 Capitals)

Climatic

hazards

Livelihoods

CASDAAT

Adjusted

project

activities

Climate

Change

Information

Sustainable

coping (5 Capitals)

Project

activities

Existing

Coping

Strategies

Additionalities

coping

Strategies

Climate Adaptive Sustainable Development Assessment & Adjustment Tool (CASDAAT)37

Weatherstationwith sensors1. Weather sensors2. Weather Data collection

WeatherstationConsole1. Weather data acquisition2. Local storage

AgrometConsole (Laptop )1. Storage and Archiving of weather

data2. Storage of IK3. Agromet advisory generation

2.2. Agricultural Meteorology in the context of Agricultural Meteorology in the context of CCACCA

3. Water Budgeting and Management3. Water Budgeting and Management

a. The Need for Water Budgeting and Management

b. Community mobilization for WB

c. Training of Jal Sevak (for agri-ment and WB), WB committee at village and cluster

levellevel

d. Sub-committee for WB at village level

e. Promotion of water conservation practices: well recharge, micro-irrigation, check

for leakages, water in households

e. Activities: (i) Crop planning according to water availability

(ii) Judicious use of water through micro-irrigation

(iii) records of water budgeting in the village

School of Sustainable Living and School of Sustainable Living and

LivelihoodsLivelihoods

• Ecological Community Organisers (ECOs)

• Rural Chroniclers (RCs)

• Water Use Promoters(Jal Sevaks)• Water Use Promoters(Jal Sevaks)

• Agriculture Promoters (Krushi Sevaks)

• Health Promoters (Mahila Arogya

Pravartaks)

• School Strengthening Program

Knowledge ManagementKnowledge Management

• On-going Action Research

• Thematic and issue based studies

• Best Practices and Experiences documented

• Dissemination of Knowledge Products and Processes

THE IMPACTSTHE IMPACTS

Watershed Organisation Trust (WOTR) 43

The Impacts of Watershed DevelopmentThe Impacts of Watershed Development

0

300

600

900

1200

1500

Rainfall (mm) Green Veg.(ha.) Barren Land (ha.)

1197.45

773

115

819.5 858

30

Rainfall, Green Vegetation and Barren Land (Jan.'96 and Dec.'99)

January 1996 December 1999January 1996 December 1999

IMPACTS on WaterIMPACTS on Water

Water harvested in a year of 400mm rain fall

• On 1000 acres 745 million liters

• On 1,490,000 acres , 1,110 billion litres/

annum (1.1 trillion litres)annum (1.1 trillion litres)

Impacts on Agriculture Productivity and Local EmploymentImpacts on Agriculture Productivity and Local Employment

Consolidated for 10 villages

Consolidated for 5 villages

30

40

50

60

Rs.

In M

illio

n

Darewadi-Impacts

Income From Agriculture (1996 – 2009)

Cash Crops Cereal Oil seed Pulses Vegetable Milk Fodder Total

1996 - 1.27 0.32 2.41 2.61 - 4.01 10.61

2001 15.10 1.93 0.02 0.75 5.25 1.06 8.54 32.65

2009 32.53 4.13 0.04 0.92 2.63 0.82 14.88 55.93

-

10

20

Rs.

In M

illio

n

Water Shortages : Fading Memories Water Shortages : Fading Memories

Thank You Thank You for giving us your attention!for giving us your attention!

Do visit us at Do visit us at www.wotr.orgwww.wotr.org