reEvolution

EYF – WAL

Ladakh has always had a robust community mechanism to take care of its vulnerable and disadvantaged sections. These mechanisms continue to exist today as well. However, the current pace of development is infringing joint family systems, and an upward migration trend is weakening individual sections, and there is growing income and gender disparities.

GOAL

Water harvesting solutions to strengthen land-based economic systems in the Ladakh Himalayas

(EYF-WAL)

Project Outline and Problem Statement

External forces like climate change, and other developmental activities are forcing Ladakhi communities on the brink of water and food security issues, in addition to low productive agriculture and lack of alternate income leading to socio-economic issues across the region.
- 33 villages (approximately 3,000 households and 16,000 people, 53,000 kanals) identified as water scarce villages
- Declining trend in the amount of snowfall
- Increasing water stresses
- Limited rural economic opportunities

Project Goal

To ensure that local communities become more resilient with increased adaptative capacity to climate change and other unpredictable socio-ecological factors, while strengthening their land-based economic systems.

Project Objectives

To enhance water harvesting structures and enhance economy from land based activities.

Achievements

Communities mobilized:

Water harvesting model & management were strengthened
In 10 villages of Leh District.

Enhanced water supply & water security:

In four Villages (Nang, Stakmo, Igoo, and Tsaga), cascade-type artificial glaciers were constructed to store water in the winter season and make it available in the early sowing season. In total, 1,40,731.4497 Cubic meters of ice can be stored in this structure, benefiting farmers in the Spring season.
3 community reservoirs (Zing) were successfully renovated, having total capacity of 14,709 Cubic meters, benefiting 152 households of 3 villages in Leh. To achieve this, the community also contributed Rs: 1,28,440/- towards the project expenses. Around 590 acres of land are cultivated through these reservoirs.
In 2 villages, 1660 meters of water irrigation channel was repaired to avoid water loss due to structural damage. 170 Household fields are irrigated through these water channels. To overall project community has contributed ₹ 21,977 towards the project.

Increase productivity and yield for small farmers:

The number of SHGs and farmers were given capacity-
building training and exposure visits by different
Department Experts. 25 SHG Members of Nang and Igoo
The village has successfully implemented the mushroom
production training and more than 100 kgs of Oyster
mushroom were harvested by them. 80 farmers from
different villages were also taken for an exposure visit
to different agriculture and horticulture farms. Interaction of
SHG’s was also done with inspiring Agri Enterprises to
motivate SHGs to start an enterprise.

R & D :

LNP has always been keen on innovation and adaptability
towards new technologies and methodologies. Continuing to
this, LNP has developed a Solar compost pit which will
effectively turn agricultural waste to compost effectively in
6-7 months, considering the harsh winter climate of Ladakh.

LNP also tried to upgrade Vegetable Cellars by installing a
rack system, which will increase storage area by 200% and
farmers can also generate additional income from
mushroom production in summer season where the
vegetable cellar is not in use.