Book of Extended summaries ISDA

International Conference on Reimagining Rainfed Agro-ecosystems: Challenges &
Opportunities during 22-24, December 2022 at ICAR-CRIDA, Hyderabad
marginal farmers counting to 70 percent. A large number of farm ponds were dug with the
support of programmes such as State Government special program of 1.0 lakh farm ponds for
enhancing groundwater recharge, MGNREGA and watershed development programmes,
NGO’s (RDT) introduced and ICAR-NICRA programmes in the study area. On-farm data was
collected through inventory of farm ponds in farmers’ fields to assess the benefits of different
lining material used for seepage control and effective utilisation of harvested rainwater in
scarce rainfall zone. Data attributes like size of farm pond, lining material used and availability,
water harvested, seepage losses, crops grown etc., were recorded and analysed for benefit cost
ratio.
Without lining HPDE 250 GSM lining Soil cement lining 4:1 ratio Soil cement lining 6:1
Results
Inventory results samples collected from locations which were identified with GPS includes
lined and unlined farm ponds in Ananthapuramu district of A.P. The lining material used by
farmers are HDPE sheet of 250, 300 and 500 microns, LDPE, Bricks+cement, local
stoneslabs+cement and soil +cement in 8:1 ratio for seepage control and effective utilisation.
On-farm inventory in the scarce rainfall zone with annual average rainfall of 544 mm under
arid alfisols in Andhra Pradesh, among the different seepage control methods used, a farm pond
with capacity of 250 m 3 , under 1 ha catchment with soil+cement (6:1) lining was efficiently
used (two irrigation of 1.0 cm each) during dry spells on groundnut crop. The crop productivity
by lined farm pond is 1230 kg/ha, when compared to 820 kg/ha from unlined farm pond. The
constraints observed during the study for sustainability of farm ponds in these agroclimatic
zones are exposure of material to high temperature, physical damage by animals, poor
maintenance of lining material, availability of runoff during the offseason etc.
Conclusions
In the scarce rainfall zone with annual average rainfall of 544 mm under arid alfisols in Andhra
Pradesh, shows among the different seepage control methods used, a farm pond with capacity
of 250 m 3 , under 1 ha catchment with soil+cement (6:1) lining was efficiently used (two
irrigation of 1.0 cm each) during dry spells on groundnut crop. The crop productivity by lined
farm pond was 1230 kg/ha, when compared to 820 kg/ha from unlined farm pond. Farm pond
are found suitable to address the issue of water scarcity by storing excess of canal water as well
as rainfall for applying to field as and when required. The major constraints observed in this
Resilience through land and water management interventions, water management and governance
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