Abstract
Using ‘before and after’ and ‘with and without’ methods, this paper assesses the economic and ecological impacts of tank restoration in three villages in Andhra Pradesh, India. This study finds positive impacts of tank restoration on economic and ecological indicators that unequivocally support the rationale for tank restoration in the drought-prone regions. Moreover, the impact is greater in the case of small and marginal farmers when compared with large farmers, indicating a positive effect/influence on poverty. This study also documents the improvements of the groundwater table in the programme villages and the resultant increase in rabi (the second crop in the agricultural season (December–April)) crop acreage and yield rates. Availability of fodder (ecological impact) has strengthened the livestock economy of the programme villages. The economic and ecological impacts of the programme are significant in the case of tanks restored before 1995–1996, indicating the sustainability of the programme.
Abstract
Cet article évalue les impacts économiques et écologiques de la restauration de réservoirs dans trois villages d’AP’ en Inde, en utilisant les méthodes « avant-après » et « avec ou sans ». Les indicateurs positifs obtenus par l’étude justifient la restauration de ces réservoirs dans les régions sujettes à la sécheresse. De plus, l’impact est plus important dans le cas de petits producteurs marginaux que dans le cas de grands producteurs, ce qui indique un effet positif sur la réduction de la pauvreté. L’étude décrit également les améliorations concernant les nappes phréatiques dans les villages du programme et l’augmentation induite des surperficies et rendements des cultures du rabi (seconde saison, de décembre à avril). La disponibilité du fourrage (impact écologique) a renforcé l’activité d’élevage dans les villages du programme. Les impacts économiques et écologiques sont significatifs dans le cas des réservoirs restaurés avant 1995–1996, montrant la durabilité du programme.
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Notes
Tanks are traditional rainwater harvesting and storage systems consisting of a major embankment across and (along) the line of the drainage, with two side embankments running backward up to the line of the drainage, gradually losing their height. The tank resembles a rectangular (or semi-circle) catchment basin with only three embankments, the fourth side being left open for runoff and drainage water to enter (Rao, 1999).
There are numerous examples of institutional arrangements for managing traditional water harvesting systems across the country. For details see Agarwal and Narain (1997).
The Andhra Pradesh community-based tank management project aims at improving the physical and operational performance of about 3000 tanks, with a command area of 250 000 hectares.
The TMC represents all sections of the village community, though contributions are collected only from the farmers in the tank command area (TCA). The size of the TMC varies from 5 to 20 members, depending on the size of the village. A third of the members are women. To the extent possible, women are recruited (by the NGOs) as organizers, to collect information and interact with village people regarding the tanks. Elections are conducted every year and any person can be a member for a maximum period of two terms. Minimum official wages are paid on the basis of volumetric rates. Contributions are also valued at these rates. The NGOs open bank accounts and operate these jointly with the TMC.
We noticed that this data set, collected by the local NGOs, is neither detailed nor consistent.
The changes are in terms of effective irrigation, as the command area remains the same before and after restoration.
The depth of the borewells was assessed based on the information provided by the sample households on the depth at which groundwater is available before and after restoration of the tank.
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Acknowledgements
We thank two anonymous referees and Chief Editor of The European Journal of Development Research for their helpful comments and suggestions. Thanks are also due to Pulak Mishra for his comments on the paper.
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Reddy, V., Behera, B. The economic and ecological impacts of tank restoration in South India. Eur J Dev Res 21, 112–136 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1057/ejdr.2008.12
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/ejdr.2008.12