Soil and Water Conservation
Most life on earth depends upon soil as a direct and indirect source of food. The rapid erosion of soil due to heavy rain and winds causes problems for humans since it began cultivating. The absence of soil and water conservation measures heavily influences the agriculture productivity for the farmers who are dependent upon rain-fed agriculture.
In this context, CCJ aims to enhance the productivity of crops by developing soil fertility and water restoration for irrigation purpose. Its strategy emphasizes on ‘Ridge to Valley approach’ for land and water development. Over the years, CCJ has gained vast experience of developing micro watershed in areas like Tonto & Chakradharpur in West Singhbhum district and Kuchai & Chandil in Seraikela-Kharsawan. This strategy has generated awareness among community for conservation of their own resources by mobilizing the community for cost sharing either in cash or kind.
Mechanical Measures of Soil and Water Conservation
Contour Bund
Demarcating Contour Line
Graded Bund
Bench terracing
Contour Trench
Refilling of Contour Trench
Gully Plug
Check Dam
Earthen Check Dam
Gabion Dam
Earthen Farm Bund
Construction of Pond
Deepening of Pond
5% model (Farm Pond)
30-40 models
Channel Diversion
Agriculture
We worked with small and marginalized families struggling for food security for entire year. Despite of having cultivable land, they lack guidance and support for interventions to convert their land from semi productive to better productive land.
Paddy is the main crop cultivated by the farmers in the working area. The efforts take by CCJ in motivating families to learn sustainable way of cultivation has changed the scenario. Capacity Building programs, Technical training with demonstrations of cash crop cultivation, mixed cropping, promotion of organic manure and networking with agriculture department at Block and District level have increased the statistical data for families who turned out their production for 6-9 months to 12 months. CCJ help the farmers to prepare resource planning and seasonal calendar to diversify the crop production. Now families take up vegetable cultivation, pulses cultivation, cultivation of oil seed and nutritional garden. Technical training inputs were also given to the women involved in field. There are more than 150 Self Help Groups adopted cultivation in group.
The micro water programmes have turned out 30% of barren land into cultivable land. We have also helped the famers to raise finances from government and other institution. Organic farming in the area motivated SHG women to adopt selling of organic manure as an enterprise.
System of Rice Intensification
The main cereal for majority of people in Jharkhand is Rice. The demand of rice is growing day by day. On the other hand cultivation of rice requires more water and Jharkhand in facing water scarcity due to minimum catchment of rain water. Water and food security are linked with each other.
In this back drop, the organization started giving inputs on System of Rice Intensification which was really challengeable task in the beginning to make people understand its benefits. Every year since 2010, we have run a campaign – Introducing System of Rice Intensification for selected farmers. The Campaign started from 100 farmers now reached up to 3500 farmers in the rural areas. Especially women demonstrated their interest in cultivation through SRI. They are ones who encouraged famers to take the risk. Today no one s having any complains.
Package of Practice (POP)
WE believe that concise write up on Agriculture related topics are helping many famers to join others through ‘Chain Empowerment’. Booklet on various package of practice being developed by experts in the organization. Demand for making package of practice available for them is growing day by day. Other organization and volunteers are also approaching to get these booklets.
· POP SRI Paddy
· POP for Arhar
· POP for Maize and Tomato
· POP for Mushroom
· POP for fish rearing
· POP for Alternative and Profitable Cropping
