V & A Programme

KOTHUR VILLAGE, MIDJIL MANDAL

INT RODUCT ION

Midjil Mandal is one of the 64 Mandals in Mahabubngar District, it is located in

the north-eastern part of Mahabubnagar District. This is the only Mandal

identified as ‘dark area’ where more than 90 % of the recharge capacity of

groundwater resources are exploited. There are 28 villages in this Mandal. Midjil

Mandal is located at around 16 Degree 44 minutes N latitude and 78 Degree 21

minutes E longitude.

The topography is undulating and dotted with granitic tors and sheet rocks.

Other features are bushy vegetation, scattered and thorny scrub land, Dundubi

and its tributaries flow through this Mandal, and presence of few ephemeral

tanks all combine to produce a beautiful landscape.

Dundubi Tributary

Dundubi Stream

MMiiddjjiill

KKootthhuurr

Map 1 Location map of Kothur village and the Dundubi stream, Midjil Mandal (Source: Google

Earth)

V & A Programme

2

Photo 1 Kothur Village, Midjil Mandal

Kothur Village

V & A Programme

3

Within Midjil Mandal, Kothur village is selected for V & A Programme. It is about

50 kilometers distance from Mahabubnagar town and 7kms away from Mandal

Headquarters - Midjil. This village has one hamlet called ‘Mallapur’. The nearest

major town is Jadcherla, which is about 30 kms away from this village. The

National Highway No. 7 passes through Jadcherla town. The area around the

village has some granitic outcrops and the topography is undulating. There is a

stream called Dundubi and its tributary adjoining this village. The total

geographical area is 680 hectares.

Photo 2 Villagers are participating in the participatory resource mapping

V & A Programme

4

Photo 3 Kalajatha – Awareness campaign on V & A Programme

Photo 4 Women participation in the V & A awareness programme

V & A Programme

5

In the village Self Help groups (SHGs), Rythu Mithra Groups (RMGs) and User

Groups are existing and are functioning. There are also village level institutions

like Watershed Association and Village Organization (VO)1 in the village. The

transportation facilities are difficult to this village as it is about 7 kms from the

main road. This village has telephone Communication facilities.

S I T UAT IONAL ANALYS IS

Pop u la t ion

This is a heterogeneous village with representation of people from diverse castes

and socio-economic structure. The total population of the village is 1462 with 224

households. Majority of the villagers belong to Backward Caste (BC) and

Scheduled Caste (SC). The Other caste and Minorities are few in numbers. There

is no Scheduled Tribe (ST) population in this village. Mallapur is one small hamlet

under this Gram Panchayat. The Sarpanch of this village is a Woman from

General category. She participates actively in all the programmes and activities

in the village.

POPULATION

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

900

1000

Backward

Caste

Scheduled

Caste

Other Caste Minorities

Graph 1 Distribution of Population

1 Federation of SHGs at Village level is called – Village Organisation (VO).

V & A Programme

6

The sex ratio is 965 (Males 744 and Female 718). This is in contrast to the sex ratio

of children below 6 years which is 1148 (boys 54 and girls 62).

Majority of the population is occupied with agriculture as primary activity. There

are about 255 agricultural laborers.

Number of non-

agriculture

labourers, 20

Number of

Agriculture

Labourers, 255

Number of

village artisans,

15

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

The poorest of the poor are from the BC and SC communities, about 12 families

are identified by IKP / VELUGU2 programme.

In this village the migration of people is not so high; only 14 people are migrating

seasonally and are engaged in construction and agricultural work.

Ed ucat ion

The literacy rate is poor in this village as it is remote a remote village. This village

has a middle level school and most of the children go to the school. There is only

one boy not going to school. The literacy rate is 43% of which males is high (57%)

as compared to females (29%).

2 Indira Kranthi Patham (IKP) / Velugu : This the largest programme supported by World Bank in Andhra

Pradesh State for poverty alleviation, facilitated by Society for Elimination of Rural Poverty (SERP), under

the department of rural development, Government of Andhra Pradesh.

V & A Programme

7

Se l f He lp Gro up s (SH Gs)

There are 15 Self Help Groups (SHGs) for women, majority of them are in

consumption stage. About 4 are in asset formation and 2 in incremental stage.

General

Total women population 590

No.of women covered in SHGs 218

No. of SHGs in Village 15

Total corpus 764388

SHGs networked (Yes/No)? Yes

Agriculture Labour 145

Single woman 2

Women headed HH 15

Stage of Women SHGs No. of groups

Primitive 1

Consumption 8

Incremental income 2

Asset Formation 4

Total SHGs 15

Regarding member’s participation in group meetings all decisions are taken

collectively and they are happy with the result.

SHGs participation in community decision making /activities - Groups represent

but are not able to pursue better for getting an assurance for proposed actions.

CASTE WISE REPRSENTATION IN SHGs

88

103

27

0 20 40 60 80 100 120

1

OC

BC

SC

V & A Programme

8

Name of SHG Date of

formation

Corpus (Rs) Others

(Rs)

Corpus

(Rs) SC B

C

OC Total Savings Interest DRDA/D

PIP

contribut

ion

Ambedkar 28.9.1995 13 0 0 13 47850 3806 12500 30000 64156

Arunjyothi 28.9.1995 15 0 0 15 54900 4392 12500 30000 71792

Swathi 28.9.1995 15 0 0 15 54900 4392 12500 30000 71792

Vasantha 14.10.95 6 9 0 15 54450 4392 12500 30000 71342

Bramarambika 12.3.1999 0 15 0 15 36000 2880 7600 90000 46480

Malleshwari 15.4.1997 0 24 0 15 46350 3708 0 0 50058

Santhosimatha 26.12.99 1 14 0 15 31950 2556 12500 80000 47006

Susmitha 4.6.1999 0 12 3 15 34650 2772 12500 90000 49922

Indira.p.darsini 12.12.97 0 8 2 10 28500 2280 12500 30000 43280

Lalitha 15.12.97 0 3 12 15 42750 3420 12500 30000 58670

Jyothi 25.3.1997 2 5 8 15 46800 3744 12500 30000 63044

Vidya 8.6.1999 1 12 2 15 34650 2772 0 0 37422

Rajeshwari 12.8.1999 5 10 0 15 39150 3132 0 0 42282

Jhansi 12.12.97 15 0 0 15 31950 2556 0 0 34506

Maruthi 18.9.2003 15 0 0 15 11700 936 0 0 12636

Total 88 10

3

27 218 596550 47738 120100 764388

SHGs need to be strengthened in the following areas; involving them in non-farm

based livelihood activities (diversification and economic security), more

participation for improving the Natural Resources and motivating them for

political representation.

Hea l th a nd Sa n i ta t ion

There are 140 sanitary latrines existing in this village, during transect in the village

it is found that still majority of people desecrate outside, which would lead to

health problems. As the number of sanitary latrines existing are inadequate their

numbers need to be increased.

V & A Programme

9

Kitchen Garden: There is only one kitchen garden in the village; it is the most

diversified and meeting all the vegetable and fruit needs of a family. There is

potential to encourage the villagers for having kitchen gardens – for health and

nutrition of the families.

Poo re s t o f the Poor

There are only 12 poorest of the poor families identified in this village; they could

be given priority and be brought under the appropriate schemes of the

Government.

Ra in fa l l a nd Te mpe ra t u re

The Normal Rainfall of Kondurg Mandal is 618 mm as compared to the District

Normal of 604mm. And the south west monsoon is erratic which accounts for the

maximum rainfall. Kondurg Mandal is an interior area, with hot summers (Temp.

39 deg C to 41 deg C) and warm winters (25 deg C to 35 deg C). The summer

period is from March to May.

Table 1 Rainfall pattern – Midjil Mandal

Rainfall in (mm)

NORMALS 618.0

1999-2000 524.7

% OF DEVI -15.1

2000-01 761.4

% OF DEVI 23.2

2001-02 691.0

% OF DEVI 11.8

2002-03 619.9

% OF DEVI 0.3

2003-04 711.4

% OF DEVI 15.1

V & A Programme

10

Land

The land use pattern of Kothur village is shown in graph 1. This is for the latest

data for year 2004-05, it is observed that there is no forest and pasture land

categories.

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

450

500

Ne

t a

rea

sow

n (

tota

l

cro

pp

ed

Cu

ltiv

ab

le

wa

ste

Are

a s

ow

n

mo

re t

ha

n

on

ce

Ba

rre

n a

nd

un

cu

ltiv

ab

le

lan

d

Lan

d p

ut

to

no

n-

ag

ricu

ltu

re

Are

a u

nd

er

fore

st

Pe

rma

ne

nt

pa

stu

res

an

d

oth

er g

razi

ng

Misc

ella

ne

ou

s

tre

e c

rop

s

an

d g

rove

s

Oth

er fa

llow

lan

ds

Graph 2

Table 2 Land Use Pattern

Land Use Pattern Area

(Hectares)

2004-2005

Total Geographical area 680

Net area sown (total cropped area) 476

Cultivable waste 152

Area sown more than once 120

Barren and uncultivable land 92

Land put to non-agriculture use 3.2

So i l s

There are three types of soils in the village - Black soils (48%), Sandy soils (27%)

and Red soils (21%) (see graph 2). Some of the lands have turned alkaline due to

irrigation and high evaporation conditions.

V & A Programme

11

SOILSRed Soil

21%Sandy soils

31%

Black soil

48%

Graph 3 Types of soils

Ag r icu l tu re

Agriculture is the main livelihood activity in this village and also the dependent

agricultural laborers are more. Majority of the farmers are marginal and small

land holders. Castor, Cotton, Jowar, Redgram, Maize, Paddy and Groundnut are

the major crops grown in this village, which are grown mostly during the Kharif3

season.

In this village over years people were cultivating traditional crops like redgram

and castor. In the last 5 years they have switched over to the commercial crop

3 There are basically three seasons, Kharif – Rainy, Rabi – Winter, Zaid – Summer.

A village with Cranes – Kongala Kothur

This village in the past was well known for paddy, there used to be water all year round

surrounding the village and hence attracted the cranes and egrets. Especially during and after

the rainy season the whole village trees were occupied by the birds. Then this village was

popularly called as ‘Kongala Kothur’ or Kothur with cranes. People also strongly believed that if

the cranes have not appeared, there will be less rainfall that year. Therefore the village elders

used to visit the neighboring villages and would tie messages to the trees where cranes resided,

requesting the cranes to return to Kothur. There is no water, therefore no cranes are visible in the

village as a result this village is no more called ‘Kongala Kothur.’ The present scenario is

unimaginable and contrasting, most of the paddy growing fields are left fallow and they are

covered with Prosopis Juliflora and also the soils have turned saline / alkaline.

V & A Programme

12

Maize. Their priority has changed because of market prices, input costs and

other risk factors like pests.

As this village is remote very few farmers cultivate vegetables. There is also one

mango orchard of 2 hectares in this village. The chemical fertilizers use has

increased, on an average farmers are using upto 5 bags per acre of land.

CROPPING PATTERN

450

300

110

6550 50 40

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

450

500

Ca

sto

r

Co

tto

n

Jow

ar

Ma

ize

Pa

dd

y

Re

dg

ram

Gro

un

d n

ut

IN A

CR

ES

Graph 4 Cropping pattern

Table 3 Crops cultivated in Kothur Village (2004-05)

Crop Name Area (in acres)

Irrigated Rainfed Total

Castor 0 450 450

Cotton 0 300 300

Jowar 0 110 110

Maize 0 65 65

Paddy 50 0 50

Redgram 50 50

Ground nut 40 40

Total 50 1015 1065

V & A Programme

13

The farmers are satisfied with the outputs from the following rainfed crops Castor,

Cotton, Jowar, Redgram and Maize which are cultivated during the Kharif

season this year. Although there were intermittent rains due to depressions in Bay

of Bengal, it appeared that they would loose their crops but the subsequent

weather conditions were favorable, especially during the ripening stage and the

crops were saved but not with the case of Paddy and Jowar, the intermittent

rains arrived during harvesting period and they had to face the losses.

The major crops cultivated in this village in the last 20 years were basically rainfed

crops red gram (20 yrs back), Castor (10 yrs back) and now Maize (see graph ).

MAJOR CROPS GROWN

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180Maize Castor Redgram

Present 10 years

ago

20 years

ago

Graph 5 Time line – Major crops Cultivated

V & A Programme

14

There is a nursery in the village started under the Watershed project, the same

facility could be used for growing useful saplings for tree crops, agro-forestry and

agri-horticulture.

As most of the farmers are marginal and small and are either SCs / BCs through

introduction of certain practices their lands could be made more fertile.

The agricultural produce is sold to non-institutional sources without any value

addition. There are Rythu Mithra Groups in the village although farmers are well

organized but they are unable to get the extension services effectively.

Land Holding

Majority of the farmers in the village are Small and Marginal4 and most of them

belong to scheduled caste and backward caste (see graph 3). There are only

few large farmers in the village.

4 Marginal Farmer – 1 to 2.5 acres of dry land and Small Farmer – 2.6 to 5 acres of dry land in

Mahabubnagar District.

Case Study 1

Mr. Upender Reddy is 25 years old, he is into farming since last 6 years after his father expired.

He owns 11 acres of cultivable land (7.5 acres is irrigated and 2.5 acres is rainfed). Although he

drilled 4 borewells only two of them are functioning.

In his rainfed agricultural field he cultivates groundnut, castor and redgram. Earlier he used to

leave one acre of rainfed land fallow, for his cattle grazing in it.

Of the 7.5 acres irrigated land, 4 acres cotton and 2 acres paddy is cultivated, and about 1

acre of land is left fallow in rotation.

Earlier this family had 15 nos. of cattle (11 buffalos and 4 cows), because of drought he has sold

all of them last year. He doesn’t have any cattle now.

He visits the Agriculture University and interacts with agricultural officers for advice on cultivation

of various crops. He gave the soil samples for testing for understanding the soil condition, so that

he could improve it. He uses less chemical fertilizers and more Farm Yard Manure. He is one of

the progressive farmers selected for the programme.

V & A Programme

15

LAND HOLDING PARTICULARS

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90

Schedule Caste

Other Backward

Caste

Other Caste

Land Holdings Marginal

Land Holdings Small

Land Holdings Large

Graph 6 Land holding particulars

L ive s to ck

Because of the subsequent drought conditions there was shortage of fodder, as

a result the number of families possessing livestock has come down in the last 10

years (see graph below). Most importantly the dairy activity has got affected,

although the private commons available for grazing has increased as many

farmers have left their fields fallow. Livestock is also an important asset to cope

with drought situation and difficult times. The number of small ruminants have

increased as compared to 20 years back, but their numbers are coming down,

due to shortage of fodder and drinking water availability. There sheeps and

goats are usually kept by Shepherd community called Kurumas. Dairy animals

are also possessed by majority of the families. There is also priority and

preference of people for getting engaged in dairy activity and there is a milk

collection center in the village. There is need to create alternative solutions for

fodder availability to encourage keeping the livestock. Backyard poultry is a

very common activity for majority of the people.

V & A Programme

16

LIVESTOCK POPULATION

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

Cows Bullocks Buffaloes Sheep Goat

Current (2005)

upto 10 years ago

(1995-2004)

>10 to 20 years

ago(1985-1994)

Graph 7 Livestock population – Timeline

V & A Programme

17

Graph 8 Resource Map of Kothur Village

V & A Programme

18

Wate r Re so urce s

Although there are 8 number of tanks in the village, the irrigation potential is

limited due to non / poor maintenance of the tanks. Three tanks are non-

functional. The total area irrigated under the tanks is just 28.8 hectares.

There are 40 openwells, this village having located close to the dundubi tributary

has sandy soils. As the soils are sandy, the openwells, filter points and borewells

need to be lined to prevent collapsing of the walls. The 24 openwells existing in

the village are functional during and few months after the rains.

Photo 5 Because of above normal rains this year groundwater levels have increased

V & A Programme

19

Photo 6 A filter point well – along the banks of Dundubi tributary

Of the 120 borewells only 70 are functional. Whereas all the 50 filter wells are

functional especially this year due to good amount of rains received. The

groundwater levels are highly fluctuating due to the presence of sand in the

ground – more groundwater is available if there is flooding in the tributary of

Dundubi stream and its tributary.

People are more and more dependent on the filter wells and borewells for

irrigation leading to over exploitation of the meager groundwater resources. For

improving the irrigation potential the following possibilities are existing:

1. Renovation of existing structures

2. Creation of proper drainage facilities for water harvesting and treating the

water logging areas.

3. Desilting of tanks, renovating the feeder channels and drainage lines and

removal of vegetation occupying the tank bed.

4. Creation of new water harvesting structures at feasible locations.

V & A Programme

20

Watershed Programme

This village was selected for the watershed project in the year 1995-96 under

Employment Assurance Scheme (EAS). About Rs. 16 lakhs were spent on various

watershed works. Watershed Development Fund (WDF) contribution by the

stakeholders is about Rs. 96 thousand which is available with Watershed

Association.

The Watershed Committee executed the following works under the project :

laying of earth bunds of 1400 meters length, constructed 2 percolation tanks with

revetment, 5 masonry checkdams, 220 gully control structures and 1 feeder

channel.

Status of water resources

Surface water – Adequate storage facilities are created sharing with informal

system.

Groundwater - About 40% of open wells are dry and bore wells are being drilled to

greater depths. The dry open wells can be used for recharging the aquifers. The

drilling of borewells is a recent practice and the numbers are increasing

affecting the existing filter wells and openwells.

Drinking water (DW) - Adequate DW sources are created and shared judiciously.

Water is available throughout the year and there are hand pumps too. The

village is having an overhead tank and water is supplied regularly through pipes.

Soil Moisture - Moisture content improved very little with the implementation of

the watershed programme and farmers are able to get one secure crop.

E ne rgy

Most of the families are still using fuel wood as source of energy for domestic

cooking, which is causing health problems to women. It also involves

considerable amount of time to fetch the firewood. About 40 smokeless chullahs

are provided in this village, which are less polluting and conserve the

consumption of fuel wood.

V & A Programme

21

About 55 LPG gas connections were provided to 55 families, only 35 families are

using them. They don’t use them for regular cooking, because the LPG refilling

costs are very high for the families to afford. Although there are 10 biogas plants

in the village, only one biogas plant is functioning. Rest of the biogas plants need

to be repaired for making them functional.

Energy conservation is also an important issue, to save energy (electricity) there

are some options like: The farmers need to install capacitors for all agricultural

borewells, these will reduce the consumption of the power and also prevents the

burning of motors due to power fluctuations.

Lighting is the most essential thing, especially for children’s education, for

domestic and street lighting they could use white Light Emitting Diodes which are

cool, bright and long lasting. On pilot basis some Lighting modules could be

installed in the village. With them villagers would save the precious subsidized

electricity consumption.

As majority of the farmers are marginal and small, the draught animals are still a

major source of energy for agricultural activities and local transportation.

Women are spending lots of time and energy for fetching drinking water,

fuelwood and fodder, i.e., about 1 hour per day for each of the resources. The

fuelwood access has increased because of the excessive growth of Prosopis

Juliflora.

Co mmon Po o l Re so u rce (CP R)

The productive CPR is very much limited about 18 acres and also there is

limitation to develop CPR for creation of alternative livelihoods. The revenue land

available is mostly along the Dundubi tributary, which floods every year.

V & A Programme

22

I ns t i tu t io ns Funct io n ing a t V i l lage leve l

These are the following Government Departments or Agencies programs /

services in the village.

Ongoing Programmes

SGRY,

9th Finance commission,

The total amount allocated till date for the above programmes is rupees 72

thousand only.

Natural Resources Management (NRM)

Agriculture Department / Rythu Mitra Groups (RMGs).

·Horticulture Dept

Animal Husbandry

Irrigation Dept (Minor / Medium / Major)

Social Aspects

Dist. Rural Dev. Agency (DRDA) / District Poverty Initiatives Programme

(DPIP) / Indira Kranthi Patham

DPEP / Education

Medical and Health

SC Corporation

BC Welfare / BC Corporation

Social Welfare Department

Anganwadi / Women and Children Welfare

ICDS / Child Development Programme

Housing Department – Houses constructed by the government for SCs /

BCs / Poor.

Services

Civil supplies / Public Distribution system

Rural water supply (Panchayat Raj dept.)

Electricity

Telecommunications / BSNL – Telephone facilities

Artisans - Adarana scheme for artisans – supply of tools by Govt.

NEDCAP – (biogas plants)

V & A Programme

23

I n f ras t ruc tu re Ex i s t i ng

The following infrastructure exists in the village:

Water and Soil Conservation Activities

1. 8 Irrigation Tanks

2. 5 Borewells for drinking

3. 1 Overhead tank

4. 2 Check dams

Buildings

1. Panchayat Office

2. Primary School

3. Community hall

Noon-meal center building – near the school

Roads

CC roads within the village, blacktop road connecting the village with the main

road at Midjil and the road connecting Mallapur hamlet.

Common Facilities

1. This village is having electricity service

2. About 7 kms away the transportation services are available for the villagers.

Everyday only once the bus service is available to this village, rest of the time

people commute through autorickshaws and jeeps.

3. Telephone connectivity is existing in this village.

Dairy / Veterinary services

1. One milk collection centre is existing in this village.

I n f ras t ruc tu re gaps

Water and Soil Conservation Activities

1. 2 Irrigation Tanks

2. 2 borewell - Hand Pumps for drinkingwater

3. House Hold level connections from overhead tank

4. 4 Check dams

V & A Programme

24

Marketing Infrastructuure

1 godown for community grains storage

Roads

Black top road connectivity to Midjil village and Mallapur hamlet.

Common Facilities

Villagers have requested for Village knowledge center and Automatic weather

station.

Library / Resource center

A Secondary school building

Anganwadi building for small children.

READINE SS AND WI LL INGNES S OF THE VI L LAGERS

During the focused group discussions the villagers have expressed their readiness

and willingness on the following aspects.

Involvement in production enhancement activities

Working on Agriculture based micro-enterprises.

Non-agriculture based micro-enterprises.

Promoting more percolation tanks for rainwater harvesting.

Development of assigned lands

Leasing of land to SHGs by the community

Seed bank and seed improvement

Management of kuntas and tanks

Desilting of tanks/conversion to percolation tanks and reviving community

practice of desilting the tanks

Converting check dams to percolation tanks

Taking up ridge level percolation pits

Taking supply/feeder channels to the tanks

Use of CPR for tree plantations

Value addition to agricultural produce

Demarcating land for protection (from grazing & tree felling)

V & A Programme

25

SU GGEST IONS AND RECOMME NDAT IONS

This preliminary study is useful in understanding the various types of Resources

and the ongoing livelihood activities in the pilot village. And based on this study

the following observations were made:

Ag r icu l tu re

1. People are traditionally involved in agriculture but there is need for them to

adapt to the organic and sustainable agricultural practices.

2. Agriculture is the major livelihood activity in this village, hence there is need to

give them better skills in on-farm and off-farm related activities

On-farm: Olericulture and Horticulture.

Off-farm: Dairy, Backyard poultry, ram lamb, sheep development, etc.

3. The villagers need to be mobilized for collective decision in choice of crops

and marketing.

4. There is no seed bank in this village, a seed bank could be promoted for

conserving the traditional indigenous seeds which are resistant to climate

variability.

5. Majority of the farmers are small and marginal, there is a need to provide

additional livelihood opportunities for the farmers.

6. The black and red soils are suitable for diverse crops.

7. Need to adapt scientific methods (like Soil testing) for better management of

the soils.

8. There is also need to provide with knowledge and technology to improve the

existing lands and to bring the fallow lands under cultivation.

9. Should have better Marketing linkages / information

10. Advise on cropping – choice of crops and management practices, there is a

need for better extension of services by the agriculture department.

11. There is still more potential for strengthening the farm based activities.

12. More credit could be accessed from banks for inputs.

13. There is a lot to improve or work for non farm based livelihood activities,

improvement of natural resources to cope in lean season and for food

security.

V & A Programme

26

L ive s to ck

14. The stress period for availability of fodder is during March and July. There is a

need to promote alternative measures to mitigate the impact.

15. There is a need to improve the dairy sector. The milk production is directly

related to availability of fodder. The farmers are well aware of the leguminous

fodder, there is a need to encourage and provide seed and other inputs for

fodder improvement.

16. Breeding is limited to few months only, between February and March, and

October and December months. There is need to improve the overall breeding

programme and also to control the seasonal diseases with the help of para-vets

yet to be identified.

17. There is potential for further development of dairy as supportive livelihood

activity with the improvement of existing storage and transportation facilities.

Wate r

18. More area can be brought under cultivation through water conservation

measures and practices.

19. The 14 open wells in the village which are not functioning can be

converted into the recharge wells.

20. There are 8 tanks in the village out of which only 5 tanks are used for

irrigation and the total irrigated area is only 28.8 hectares. Need to renovate the

remaining 3 tanks and to increase the capacity of rest of the tanks.

21. There is need to improve the following aspects: - fodder development,

Agro- and social forestry, horticulture development, promotion of quality of

seeds, vermiculture, Sustainable Agricultural methods, non-farm livelihoods, etc

and also Facilitation for silt removal from the village tanks for application in the

dry lands.

E ne rgy

22. The villagers need to get exposed to the successful case studies

elsewhere on energy conservation and alternative technologies.

23. Need to revive the defunct biogas plants.

24. Villagers need to be introduced to Improved chullahs / stoves for energy

conservation, gasifier stove - Anila, solar cookers etc.

V & A Programme

27

25. Explore options for installation of Gasifiers based electricity generators –

which would work with wasted biomass.

26. Installation of White Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) in few households for

demonstration on power conservation.

27. Women are spending lots of time and energy for fetching water,

fuelwood and fodder, i.e., about 3 hours per day. There is need to improve

options in these sectors – availability and access.

Co mmon Po o l Re so u rce s (CP R)

28. There is potential to plant useful saplings all along the 12 acres of land

available along the road margins and 6 acres of land along the canal bunds

involving women SHGs. Options for improving the 1600 acres of wasteland

available along the Dundubi tributary in the village.

So c ia l Cap i ta l

29. Group centered activities are already going on in this village through

SHGs and Rythu Mithra Groups (RMGs) which need to be strengthened further.

Through provision of revolving fund the women groups could access the credit

for group centered livelihood activites.

30. Strengthening SHGs by facilitating access to credit and markets through

convergence.

31. Other CBOs in the village need to be further strengthened and networked

at the Gram Panchayat level.

Se rv ice s

32. Establishment of Village knowledge Center and training center on using

the computers.

33. Establishment of Automatic weather station – for knowledge on the

climate variability and weather information.

34. More credit should be made available to the villagers through banks and

other sources for their activities.

35. All the households should have sanitary latrines.

36. Similarly the safe drinking water access to be made available to all the

households.

V & A Programme

28

L ive l i hood s D ive r s i f ica t ion

37. Alternative livelihood activities: The people in this village are mainly

dependant on agriculture as primary activity. As majority of the farmers are

marginal and small, there is need for livelihoods diversification by the people. The

people need to be provided trainings and skills for adapting to diverse trades.

This would also provide additional employment opportunities. People are well

aware of the developments in various fields, therefore it is easy for them to

diversify and adapt to other livelihood options.

38. The women and youth in the village should be imparted trainings in Micro

enterprise development.

39. Alternative livelihood options need to be provided to the educated youth

in the village. For example youth could be trained on electrical repairs (motor

winding and pumps) and servicing home appliances.

ACT I V I T I ES COMP LETE D

In Kothur village the following activities were completed till date

Awareness through interaction with community and awareness

programmes using folk media, songs, puppetry, street plays, etc.

Primary data collection – Structured format and Focused Group

Discussions.

PRA exercises for community participation, awareness and information

collection (Resource Mapping, seasonality and Transect walk).

Identification of Pilot Farmers and collection of the agricultural output

samples from Pilot farmers.

Grama Sabhas were held and the villagers have taken resolution to

participate in this programme.

Case studies (from pilot villages) collected.

Process documentation – record of activities and events in the project

villages, video and photo documentation of all the events.

V & A Programme

29

ACT I VI T I ES P LANNE D FOR YE AR 2006

A . Imp le menta t ion o f t he P rog ramme – F ie ld Leve l Act iv i t ie s

1. Facilitate PTD on agriculture, water and energy for selected farmers and

groups

2. Capacity building farmers (on specific best practices1 ) and CBO’s

(institutional aspects)

3. Demonstration of location specific best practices

B . Capac i ty Bu i ld ing , Docume nta t ion and Awarene ss

1. Validation and documentation of selected coping practices beyond pilot

villages

2. Awareness campaign on climate change/variability

3. Development of information, education and communication (IEC) material

4. Establishment of the Village Knowledge Centers

5. Training of weather Managers.

AFPROs role will be major with respect to all the above aspects, except for B4

and B5 points where it is supportive role to MSSRF. AFPRO will be working together

with National and International Consortium partners, through sharing, learning

and incorporating the ideas for successful implementation of the V & A

programme.

All the proposed activities for implementation are in Yearly Plan of Operation

(YPO), 2006.

Note:

1. All the Participatory Technology Developments will be implemented

through Pilot Farmers.

2. Where ever possible some of the activities will be implemented through

convergence with ongoing programmes.

ANNEXURES

I. SUCCESS STORIES OF NGOs IN ANDHRA PRADESH

II. MAPS OF MIDJIL MANDAL

III. SITUATIONAL ANALYSIS INFORMATION OF KOTHUR VILLAGE, MIDJIL MANDAL

IV. YPO, 2006