This document summarizes a project in Ramtek Taluka, Nagpur, India that introduced diversion-based irrigation systems to address issues of low and unstable crop yields. Previously, farmers primarily grew rice during monsoons with little crop diversity and low productivity. The new phad irrigation systems diverted post-monsoon flows to provide protective irrigation for crops. This enabled farmers to grow rice in both monsoons and other crops, increasing productivity by 10-11% and average annual incomes by 22%. It also raised water levels and improved food security and livelihoods in the region. Farmers were organized into water user groups and trained to maintain the systems sustainably into the future.

1. Ramtek Taluka of Dist-Nagpur,
eastern part of Vidarbha in
Maharashtra State, India
Submitted by-
YUVA Rural Association
Nagpur
Success Story
ENHANCING LIVELIHOOD THROUGH DIVERSION BASED IRRIGATION

2. SITUATION
Rice is predominant crop (60%) and mono
cropping of rice is a common practice by the
farmers in village Asoli, Murda & Ghoti
(Ramjan) of RamtekTaluka In Dist-Nagpur
during the kharif season, keeping the
remaining period of the years as fallow
resulting in low cropping intensity of about
110% which is the major problem in the
cluster villages. Soil and climatic conditions
are suitable for rice cultivation but the
productivity of rice was very low due to
cultivation of local varieties or meager
fertilizer/manure application and poor
agronomic practices. The beneficiaries are mostly from small and marginal category. Wages,
agriculture and allied small scale activities are their main source of income.
A project area of Ramtek Taluka, Dist-Nagpur east part of vidarbha in Maharashtra has a hot dry
climate, with erratic rainfall that is uncertain and unevenly distributed; agriculture is a gamble during
monsoon. Roughly 45% of its geographical area is net sown area, with 56% of the population
dependent on agriculture for their livelihood.
Agriculture is the main source of income, characterized by small-scale farmers owning less than five
acres of land. Farming is an unattractive sector to banks due to unpredictable weather, the wide gap
between expenditure and income from farming activities and the small size of land holdings. For
these farmers their only source of livelihood was being undermined by the weather, stifling not only
their income but their health too, as well as the food security of their entire family. If the farmer fell ill
or had an accident and was not able to work or worse still, died, their family spiraled into a severe
financial crisis.
THE DRIVERS
Given the prominence of agriculture and the fragility of the farmers, YUVA Rural Association,
Nagpur with the generous financial support from Edelgive
Foundation came to the realization that providing them with an
economic injection and financial security is the fastest way to
boost their agricultural yields and incomes. In this way, the
vicious cycle of poverty would
also be broken once and for
all.
Prior to implementation of the
project, PRA exercise was carried out besides frequent interaction
with the villagers. Almost all the participated farmers suggested for
creating such facilities for protective irrigation to Paddy crops in
Karif & Rabbi seasons.

3. THE INNOVATION-2017-18
Phad-a diversion based irrigation system have shown its promise in the 3 villages vizAsoli, Murda &
Ghoti (Ramjam) in Ramtek Taluka of Dist-Nagpur, eastern part of Vidarbha in
Maharashtra State in the condition of medium rainfall, of providing low
irrigation potential through mainstream surface and groundwater systems,
and have been able to mitigate the risk of crop failure and yield reduction
substantially.
Technically, the system constructed by YRA provides of pipeline-based
diversion systems using post monsoon flows, which in combination with open
channel irrigation is worth considering for adoption in the medium and minor
irrigation systems for increasing the overall system's
efficiency.
YRA is constantly working on PHAD
irrigation enabling the farmers to
protect their crops especially in dry-
spell condition & stress period
generally occurred in rainy season.
Another important objective of it is to
enable farmers to grow second crop
that is Rabbi Crop, even the summer crop where ample water is available in the
check dam or cement plug.
IMPACT
It has been observed that the diversion based irrigation
facilities assured production of kharif crops and farmers
took up the second crops. It offered the opportunities for
Agro-allied income generating activities. Farmers are
cultivating their second crop in large scale which was not
practiced before.
Before the construction of PHAD, the total area under paddy
in these 3 villages was 113.5 acre which was under rain-fed
with the productivity of 70 quintal / acre& average annual income was Rs. 1.40 lacs.
After the construction of PHAD, the farmers could cultivate
Paddy crop in Karif&Rabbi with protective irrigation, total
area 113.5 acre under rainfed was converted into protective
irrigation, also the nearby 45 farmers who have been enjoying
benefits by increased in moisture contents in few acres of their
farm land, resulted, increased the productivity of Paddy
by10% in Kharif& 11% in Rabbi, water level was also been
increased by 1 ft, thereby, earning an additional income for
themselves with less effort, save water & time etc. ultimately
there was increased in average annual income by 22%.

4. Thus, the interventions have made great impact on beneficiaries, their families, and other farming
communities in terms of higher productivity of paddy, increased in water level & average annual
income which leads to self-sufficiency of food for sustainable livelihood improvement. The people of
cluster have learned new things and doing things differently than they used to do before.
The benefitted farmers are very happy with
the interventions implemented & obliged
to Edelgive Foundation for their generous
financial support, YRA’s constructive &
encouraged efforts.
Sustainability
The beneficiary farmers are brought
together as Water User Groups and they
are educated about water management.
Group meetings are being conducted and
convinced the farmers about the
advantages of PHAD, adequate trainings
were conducted to teach them
maintenance and repair, build their confidence and demonstrated the technologies in farm and field
of progressive farmers. Formation of Water User Groups at nearby PHAD for motivating them
towards evolving their own Farmer’s Produce Company is facilitated. Local print media has covered
this story.
Respectfully Submitted by…
YUVA Rural Association
Nagpur
https://yraindia.org/