Rajkot

Gafa dam on Ghelo River near Jasdan, western Gujarat, has allowed farmers to grow crops round-the-year and increase their earnings.

The income of about 158 households have nearly tripled after a dam on the Ghelo river near Jasdan, Rajkot district, helped irrigate over 221 ha of land.

Reliance Foundation facilitated the construction of the Gafa dam near Jasdan town, Rajkot district, in 2014. With a total water harvesting capacity of more than 5.5 lakh cubic metres of water, the dam ensures availability of water round the year available to irrigate 64 ha of land, thus benefitting 158 farmers who, on an average, own 1 acre* of land each. The availability of water from the dam has made a significant difference to the lives of the poor farmers and their families in the nearby villages of Sompipliya [population 2462/households 434] and Fuljhar [population 2471/households 428].

The impact of the dam can be gauged from the fact that even though Jasdan received just half its average rainfall last year, crop production increased by 60%. The availability of water throughout the year enabled the farmers to now grow Rabi and Zaid crops, in addition to the regular Kharif crops, thus increasing their annual farm income from Rs 54,000 to Rs 1,50,000.

The dam has also facilitated non-agricultural livelihood activities including animal husbandry. Water in the dam serves a source of drinking water for the wildlife in the adjoining Hingorgarh sanctuary, even when there was a drought. The variety of flora has increased ever since the Gafa dam came up.

An existing dam on the Gafa Stream (Ghelo river), constructed years ago by the state Forest Department, had broken down 10 years ago. The villagers lacked the resources and the knowledge to reconstruct the dam.

In 2013, Reliance Foundation set up a Village Association (VA) in Fuljar village. The VA members agreed decided to reconstruct the Gafa dam. Reliance Foundation facilitated the construction by obtaining the necessary clearances from the Forest Department. An 11-member committee monitored the construction of the dam, which was completed within three months.

The rebuilding of the Gafa dam has allowed Vallavbhai, who lives in Sompipaliya village, to now irrigate his 5 acres of land round the year. “The dam has given me income throughout the year. Earlier I could grow only cotton once a year, but now I cultivate bean, maize, red gram, vegetables and wheat,” he said.

Limbabhai and Vasrambhai (both brother) of Sompipliya also grow a variety of crops and vegetables on their 5 acres of land. “Both of us have set up mango and lemon orchards on 2 acres of land (1 acre by each brother). This increased our income by three to four times. We used the extra income to buy livestock and farm equipment so that we can get even better yield next year,” Limbabhai said.

Reliance Foundation has been working towards constructing structures for water harvesting since it was founded in 2010. Till date, water harvesting structures with a capacity of nearly 500 lakh cubic meters have been constructed in 12 states.

In Jasdan, RF has constructed 68 water harvesting structures including 6 new and 10 renovated earthen tanks, 18 renovated concrete structures, and 34 new concrete check dams with created capacity of more than 45 lakh cubic meters. These initiatives have helped resolve to some extent the challenge of depleting ground water levels in western Gujarat.

– DeshGujarat