Terminal Report June 2010 Technical support Team’s Office, H.No. 12-13-373, 1 st floor, Street No-18, Chakravarthuala Nilayam, Sadashiva Nagar Colony, Tarnaka, Secunderabad-500 017, A.P. INDIA. Phone: +91-40-27014730, 27014936, Fax: +91-40-27014937. Website: http://www.apfamgs.org E-mail: [email protected]BIRDS Bharithi Integrated Rural Development Society FAO-UN Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Andhra Pradesh Farmer Managed Groundwater Systems Project (APFAMGS Project) GCP/IND/175/NET
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Andhra Pradesh Farmer Managed Groundwater Systems Project (APFAMGS
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Terminal Report
June 2010
Technical support Team’s Office, H.No. 12-13-373, 1st floor, Street No-18, Chakravarthuala Nilayam, Sadashiva Nagar Colony,
Tarnaka, Secunderabad-500 017, A.P. INDIA. Phone: +91-40-27014730, 27014936, Fax: +91-40-27014937.
Warangal, Nellore and West Godavari. In all these, area contribution of groundwater to overall food
production is significant. Close to 50% of net irrigated area in Andhra Pradesh State is contributed from
the use of ground water.
Figure 1: Progress in groundwater and surface water irrigated area in Andhra Pradesh, 1978–2008
1 Overcoming Droughts, Adaptation Strategies for Andhra Pradesh, India, 2006 The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development / The World Bank.
2 Terminal Report
Disproportionate increase in area under groundwater irrigation at a time when steep decline in areas
under canal and tank irrigation is witnessed, has led to stagnation in the net food production2.
Over exploitation of groundwater is leading to steep decline in groundwater levels and failure of wells in
39% of the micro-drainage basins in the state. The initiative of the state Government in altering this
situation is through an ambitious program referred to as “Jala Yagnam” which involves completion of 30
major and 18 medium irrigation projects at a cost of US$ 920 million, for creating an additional irrigation
in 3 million ha3. Provision of water from major irrigation projects is largely for areas that show no major
groundwater over pumping. Thus, large areas that show groundwater distress will continue to show
declines in groundwater levels and failure of wells. In spite of the construction of major projects more
farmers are investing in new wells, which is a cause for concern. The steady rise in the groundwater-
irrigated area is largely from private funds. The desire to acquire full control over the irrigation water will
only encourage further development of groundwater leading to a situation that would affect the overall
food production while significantly affecting the rural drinking water supply/sanitation and increasing the
vulnerability of several million farmers fully dependent on groundwater irrigation.
Steep decline in groundwater levels is a serious human development and economic issue that needs to
be addressed by all and not by technologists alone. Legislative interventions have serious shortcoming
because of the sheer number of groundwater users and policing all is impossible. The best option is
through building partnerships with the groundwater users. Recognizing the critical link between food
production and groundwater use Andhra Pradesh Farmer Managed Groundwater Systems (APFAMGS)
project worked on evolving an alternative model that encourage active involvement of local communities
in data collection, capacity building and improved management of the available groundwater resources.
APFAMGS project is implemented by a network of Non Governmental Organization with the support of
Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations (UN).
The basic assumption around which APFAMGS is designed is that sustainable management of
groundwater is feasible only if groundwater users understand the nature of its occurrence and the
various parameters influencing the hydrologic cycle, which in turn will put them in a position to favorably
alter the cycle at the individual farm/community level. In order to achieve this, the project has adopted
an approach aimed at demystifying the science of groundwater by translating the scientific concepts of
hydrogeology and groundwater management and making them accessible to groundwater users with or
without literacy skills. The education is participatory and emphasizes non-formal modes of learning.
APFAMGS project initiated in 2004 has successfully demonstrated that through involvement of
community through improved knowledge, behavioral change can be brought about. Enlightened
communities adopt voluntary self-regulation, leading to reduced groundwater pumping and improved
water use efficiency. In seven drought-prone districts of Andhra Pradesh, thousands of farmers residing
in 638 habitations spread over several hundred kilometers are voluntarily taking number of steps to
reduce groundwater pumping, for tiding over problem of groundwater depletion. APFAMGS project is a
partnership with farmers for implementing Demand Side Groundwater Management (DSGM) concept.
2 Andhra Pradesh State Groundwater Department – Status of Groundwater in Andhra Pradesh, Presentation at the world Bank conference on Groundwater Management in India, New Delhi- April 2009 3 Government of Andhra Pradesh, Annual Report of Irrigation Department 2006.
Terminal Report 3
APFAMGS project by its design partners with NGO’s to mobilize the huge untapped potential of several
thousand individual groundwater users to access knowledge and skills to collectively improve
groundwater use efficiency and manage the crisis to the local groundwater system. The farmers
collective through field level innovations are able to reduce groundwater use while at the same time
generate increased wealth.
APFAMGS is a Nationally Executed (NEX) project through a network of NGOs, under the close support
and supervision of FAO India (FAOIN), New Delhi and technical backstopping of FAO Head Quarters (at
Rome). Bharathi Integrated Rural Development Society (BIRDS) signed the contract with FAO and acts
as the Nodal NGO for the project implementation.
Overall, administrative responsibility of the project is with the Nodal organization BIRDS. All funds from
the donor are received by the Nodal NGO and in turn are transferred to eight NGOs and Consultants
through an agreed work-plan. The NGO’s in turn release funds to the 58 registered farmer institutions
Hydrologic Unit Network (HUN) for implementing the program at the ground level. APFAMGS is probably
only project of its kind in enabling FAO funds to reach the hands of the community and use it on their
own for building local knowledge and capacities. Through such an effort, FAO has enabled not only better
management of groundwater resources but also addressed one of the main objectives of FAO- ensuring
improved food and nutrition security.
1.1.2 Project Area
APFAMGS project implementation spread over seven drought prone districts of Andhra Pradesh is
underlain by hard rock aquifers. The project area selection is guided by technical criteria related to areas
subjected to groundwater over-development as per the reports of Government of India4, Government of
Andhra Pradesh along with due consideration of socio economic status. The project accomplishment is in
638 habitations falling under 63 Hydrological Units. All the groundwater issues in the project operational
area are addressed under the institutional framework irrespective of economic status, caste, creed and
religion. While the project does not offer any incentives for participation in the program or for taking
tough decisions, the project partners with various government agencies for facilitating linkage with
various government schemes.
In the selection of project area, the focus is in identifying the right areas where the problem of
groundwater depletion and consequent impact on food production and over all agriculture is acute. The
project objective of empowerment of community with knowledge and skills to manage groundwater
distress requires the presence of very active village level organizations that have long experience in
dealing with the community.
To ensure sustainability and replicability of the project beyond the operational area, the focus is on
building/strengthening local institutions. The institutionalization of the project helps in decentralization,
encourages larger participation, increases local innovations and governance, reduces overheads and
enables larger reach.
4 Central Ground Water Board. 2006. Dynamic Groundwater Resources of India (as on March 2004). New Delhi: Government of India, Ministry of Water Resources.
4 Terminal Report
Capacity building is the focus, enabled largely through Farmer Water School (FWS), Farmer Field Schools
(FFS) and training activities. Use of Non Formal Education (NFE) Tools in the capacity building activities
enables demystification of science and easy understanding across the population. (The list of trainings
enclosed in Annexure 5)
Project implementation is through partnership with stakeholders. Hydrological data collection by farmer
volunteers across the project generates valuable data that has technical acceptability by researchers,
government officials and planners. The scientific community is now acknowledging the scientific value for
the farmer-collected data. The data is sold to number of research stations and funding agencies.
Participatory Hydrological Monitoring (PHM) and Crop Water Budgeting (CWB) are the two important
processes that helps guide the farmers to change their groundwater management practices. Village level
institution Groundwater Management Committee (GMC) and the Hydrologic Unit Network (HUN) level
institution that is a federation of GMC’s, help consider groundwater as a community resource and the
need to look beyond the self-centered benefits. The project has organized 638 GMC’s while 63 HUN’s
have been registered to take over data collection, analysis and management for ensuring sustainable
groundwater management.
Figure 2: Map showing the APFAMGS project operational area
Terminal Report 5
1.1.3 Support of Government in Project Implementation
FAO-APFAMGS project continues to receive pro-active support at the project implementation level from
various government agencies. The project has linkages with as many as 70 government programs at the
field level which helps in the mobilization of funds to the tune of 147 million rupees ( around 3 million
US$) for supporting field infrastructure related to groundwater, land, soil, pest and crop management. At
the program management and policy level, the project has close links with number of departments.
Government of India (GOI), Ministry of Water Resources (MOWR) is up-dated periodically on the various
activities and achievements at the project. MOWR has written to the various State Governments on the
success of APFAMGS project with an advice to replicate the methodology in the respective states for
capacity building and empowerment of community with knowledge and skills to manage ground water
distress.
Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) is planning to work in partnership with community in the areas of
Groundwater Management and related knowledge sharing on real-time basis with stakeholders. Towards
achieving this objective, it is keen to learn from FAO-APFAMGS experience of involving community in
data collection, analysis, interpretation, dissemination and decision-making.
Government of Andhra Pradesh Department of Rural Development has stated its support to HU concept
of APFAMGS by recommending this approach in the implementation of New Watershed Development
Projects. Rural Development department has invited APFAMGS to be part of its advisory board in the
design and implementation of watershed programs.
Department of Irrigation has identified the APFAMGS model of institution strengthening and capacity
building of community with new knowledge and skills in the implementation of its program Andhra
Pradesh Community Based Tank Management program in 21 districts of the state.
Government of Rajasthan has requested FAO to work in partnership with the State Government in
developing an action plan for community management of groundwater. Rajasthan State is enthusiastic
to implement the scheme across the state and is keen to send its officers and farmers to APFAMGS
project for training and exposure.
Government agencies from the state of Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Orissa, and Rajasthan
continue to depute its officers and farmers to APFAMGS project for training on Community led
Groundwater Management.
1.1.4 Integration and Coordination With on Going Government Programs
APFAMGS project design offers scope for close linkages with various programs of Government of India
and Government of Andhra Pradesh with the aim to capture synergies in the implementation of
Community led Groundwater Management. As an outcome to this approach, APFAMGS regularly
interacts with various agencies including Central Ground Water Board (CGWB), Central Research
Institute for Dry land Agriculture Research (CRIDA), National Geo-physical Research Institute (NGRI),
International Water Management Institute (IWMI) and participates in technical workshops, discussions
and programs.
At the State, level APFAMGS project has close working relationship with the Department of Rural
development, Department of Irrigation, Groundwater Department, and Acharya NG Ranga Agriculture
University (ANGRAU). The PNGO’s implementing the program has close linkages with all line
6 Terminal Report
departments in the operational areas and this has helped the program to tap resources from almost 70
programs. Researchers from Regional Agriculture Research Stations (RARS) act as resource persons to
the project and participate in the FWS, CWB Workshops and Farmer Scientist Workshops.
Representative from the various Government Departments are invited to the different project meetings
and workshops. APFAMGS project is recognized by the District and State Administration as a resource
agency and is invited to share its views and experience while designing/implementing new programs
and schemes.
Central Government funded program on Artificial Recharge of open Dug wells, National Rainfed Area
Authority’s Watershed Program, World Bank Funded Andhra Pradesh Community Tank Irrigation Project,
Maharashtra Jal Swarajya Project, Tamil Nadu Irrigation Project and Orissa Water Sector Program have
all availed of the experience of APFAMGS project in the capacity building, design and implementation of
their programs. Government of Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan and Ministry of Water Resources are in
continuous dialogue with FAO-APFAMGS for incorporating the learning’s from the project as well
integrating them in the policies.
Government of Andhra Pradesh has invited APFAMGS to join the Advisory Board of Watershed program
implementation. It has also recommended to the Government of India to make suitable amendments to
the national watershed program to incorporate the Hydrological Unit Concept in the program
implementation. Government of India has incorporated the same and the Latest Watershed guidelines -
2008 has adopted the Cluster approach that envisages broader vision of Hydro-geological units
comprising of several watersheds as contiguous units within a Hydrological Unit.5
was approved by FAO in 2004. Originally, the project was launched in July 2003, by Royal Netherlands
Embassy (RNE), New Delhi and provided the funds for the project implementation. In the year 2004, RNE
handed over the project to FAO for implementation using the Dutch funding. APFAMGS is a Nationally
Executed (NEX) partnership project between Bharatiya Integrated Rural Development Society (BIRDS)
and FAO. BIRDS implement the project in seven districts in Andhra Pradesh through a federation of 10
NGO’s (Annexure 1).
An agreement to this effect was signed between FAO and BIRDS during the second week of August 2004.
FAO approved the budget of INR 318,873,334 to implement the project in the seven districts of Andhra
Pradesh. The initial duration of the project was 4 years with a total budget of US$ 6,784,539. Through
two subsequent no-cost extensions, project duration was extended until August 2009.
APFAMGS project has successfully accomplished all commitments agreed upon in the Project Document6
and all the major activities in the project were completed by May 2009. The remaining period, until
August 2009, is used to prepare terminal report, Liaise with Government Agencies & International
Funding Agencies for incorporating APFAMGS methodology in their new project design. An orientation
workshop is conducted to PNGO leaders, staff and community to extend the concept of community
management of groundwater in the areas of adaptations to climate change.
5 Common Guidelines for Watershed Development Projects-Government of India-2008. 6 APFAMGS Project Document Annex 3 of Agreement between FAO-BIRDS- 2004
Terminal Report 7
APFAMGS project is implemented through this partnership between FAO, Nodal NGO-BIRDS, 10 Partner
NGO’s and 63 HUN’s. List of NGOs associated with APFAMGS Project is furnished as Annex 1. The
project reaches out to over Nine hundred thousand population forming part of Anantapur, Chittoor,
Kadapa Kurnool, Mahaboobnagar, Nalgonda and Prakasam districts in the State of Andhra Pradesh India.
NGOs are staffed with qualified and experienced technical and social work staff. Annex 2 furnishes the
list of PNGO staff, per 31st August 2009. The NGO’s in partnership with HUN’s have successfully tapped
farmer’s wisdom and capacities in controlling their own situation and reducing vulnerability to fast
spreading crisis of groundwater depletion and crop failures.
The Technical Support Team (TST) provides the technical expertise in the needed areas/sectors, helps in
capacity building, documentation, and dissemination and in establishing linkages with Governments and
Funding Agencies. World Education provides the support in all Non Formal Education components.
Project Steering Committee (PSC) guides the project implementation and reviews the overall project
execution from time to time. The steering committee comprise of members with proven experience
drawn from government departments, academic institutions, research centers, civil society
representatives, who advise the project on the different components of work as well promote the
project concepts in policy making bodies Six Project Steering committee meetings were conducted during
the project implementation.
8 Terminal Report
1.3 Objectives of the Project
The major objectives of the APFAMGS project are:
About 3,000 Men and Women farmers are in a position to understand groundwater systems within which
they are operating at about 650 habitations in Andhra Pradesh, in a scientific manner, by the year 2008.
Hydrological database, using GIS platform, is developed for usage of GMCs, covering 650 habitations, by
the year 2006.
About 6,500 farm families enabled for adoption of alternative agricultural practices suiting the availability
of groundwater, by the year 2008.
Community based institutions established for alternative management of groundwater resources with
equal representation/ participation of men and women, covering about 650 habitations, by the year
2008.
APFAMGS project is an enabling intervention for reinforcing the internal strength and coping mechanism
of farmers to explore and find out stable solution to the issues of ground water depletion and its adverse
consequences. The project implementation follows series of steps to make the invisible groundwater fully
visible in the form of knowledge by the farmers and thereby take appropriate actions. The various steps
include:
Strengthen local institutions at the habitation and hydrologic unit level to bring on center stage
discussions on emerging water crisis especially on groundwater Demystify the science of hydrology
through FWS and train the farmers to take over all data collection leading to proper understanding of
local water resource availability Change perception of groundwater from private property to that of a
“common good” (individual farmers take decisions for collective good) Articulate and share information
across hydrological units through CWB Workshops for evolving common strategies that limit damage
to the groundwater system without sacrificing individual interest Establish new relationship between
farmers and groundwater by reducing stress on the aquifer Adopt numerous steps at the farm level
in improving crop water efficiency, implement water saving techniques and reduce chemical pollution
Implement local groundwater governance transgressing beyond individual holdings and habitations,
without being coercive Enable farmers voluntarily take painful decisions (reduce pumping, prevent
construction of new wells, crop diversification, reduced application of chemical fertilizer/pesticides)
1.3.1 Overall Development Objective
The overall objective is to demonstrate an alternative strategy for managing groundwater distress using
the Demand Side Management approach focusing on strong people’s institutions and enhancing the
knowledge base of the community. Key strategy of the project is the knowledge based approach where
community members are encouraged to collect data on groundwater and cropping systems, builds on
their existing knowledge and develops reflective capacity to look through the aspects of improved crop
water use. The strategy is to use knowledge (both local and in public domain) as the main input (as
compared to technology/investment) to get a proper perspective for managing the groundwater decline.
APFAMGS experience shows that when knowledge levels are enhanced, enlightened communities act
united to make difficult choices willingly, for minimizing risks.
APFAMGS project strategy focuses in Developing the tools and methodology for adoption of project
learning’s by various governments and programs strengthen the capacity of institutions to implement the
program in the different parts of the world as well as in India.
Terminal Report 9
The project demonstrates that Institutional and technological innovations by community, adopting a
collective approach offers the best opportunity for managing groundwater distress as well as ensuring its
upkeep and thereby its sustainability. Knowledge led Demand Side Management of Groundwater
resource provides the best opportunity for engaging large population in minimizing the risks while
increasing the wealth generation capacity.
APFAMGS project has filled a vacuum in innovations in the groundwater sector by initiating a new model
that addresses the issue of reducing groundwater pumping by bringing in behavioral changes in the
users. This approach continually engages the users by providing skills, capacity and knowledge that go
to promote innovations for reducing the consumption as well as improving the performance efficiency.
10 Terminal Report
2. Project Outputs and Supporting Processes
2.1 PROJECT OUTPUTS
2.1.1 Hydro-Meteorological Network
The project has for the first time established Hydrological Monitoring Network (HMN) operated and
maintained by the community. The data collection network acquires data from several thousand stations
and makes available real time data to community for planning judicious use of available groundwater.
Participatory Hydrological Monitoring (PHM) by the community helps transform individual groundwater
users to water resource literates. Based on the data collection and analysis the farmers have a fair
understanding of the groundwater quantity that is available. APFAMGS project farmers make cropping
decisions based on fair understanding of the available groundwater for the ensuing cropping season.
2026 observation wells (one well for every square kilometer) are established across the project as part of
the network. Fortnightly water level monitoring is carried out by farmer volunteer’s (both women and
men farmers). 190 Rain-gauge stations (one for every 5 sq. km.) are part of the network established in
the lands donated by the farmers. Groundwater discharge measurements are also incorporated in the
network. Discharge measurements are carried out in 700 monitoring observation wells using the
calibrated drum method. The time taken to fill a known capacity of drum is measured using a stop clock.
Along with the discharge, the farmers also measure the drawdown. List of Hydro-metrological the
networks established under the project is furnished as Annex 3. All the equipment and infrastructure
developed as part of HMN is transferred to the respective HUN. Annex 4 gives details of equipment
transferred to HUNs.
2.1.2 Farmer Data Collection
Hydro-metrological network is fully operated by farmer volunteers who undergo training (4 modules) to
qualify and only successful candidates are eligible to become a PHM volunteer. The project provides
measuring tools like electrical water level indicator, stopwatch, measuring drums (which are shared by
number of volunteers).
Farmer collected data includes: daily rainfall, fortnightly water levels, fortnightly bore-well discharge and
daily stream-flows. Based on the established data of a particular station, the data is collected by the
farmer volunteers. Data sets available per August 31st 2009 are given in Annex 5. Seasonal groundwater
quality measurements are carried out from public drinking water wells. Volunteers maintain a logbook of
Hydrological Monitoring Records (HMR). The HMR data is also exhibited for public viewing on display
boards maintained at strategic locations in the Habitation.
Technical data collected by the community provide information on available groundwater balance in the
HU prior to the cropping season that helps guide decision making on crop plans. Such an approach has
helped farmers reduce the risks especially with high input crops, reduce losses, limit groundwater
extraction to safe limits, improve water use efficiency while generating more wealth.
Terminal Report 11
2.1.3 Community Institutions
Institutional Intervention is integrated with technical component for managing groundwater depletion. A
multi layer inclusive institution that is vertically integrated has been thought of in the project.
Groundwater Monitoring Committee (GMC) has been conceived to be a village level institution of the
farmers-men and women. Several GMCs within a given HU are grouped together to form a Hydrological
Unit Network (HUN).
The GMC, HUN are the critical instruments for providing the “demonstration effect” of the learning’s from
the project to the larger community of farmers beyond the project area. The institutions have equal
membership of men and women. These institutions have provided good opportunities for women to come
forward and lead in specific areas, while in many situations enabled men and women to come together
and take actions leading to good impact. Literacy has never been a criterion that determines
participation, particularly since the project emphasizes Non Formal Education (NFE) methods for every
aspect of implementation.
Over the years, all the HUNs have been provided with legal cover, which provides them the status to
receive funds as well as carry out business activities. Most of the people’s institutions continue to
perform their roles with distinction and have achieved varied levels of maturity, prompting the local
NGO’s to hand over major responsibilities to the people’s Institutions to run the program of curbing
overuse of groundwater. Annex 6 provides list of registered Community Based Institutions (CBOs).
12 Terminal Report
2.1.4 Gender Participation
The project has strong gender interface keeping the practical and strategic gender needs at the core.
Gender in the project, occupies a cross cutting space encompassing all the components and processes.
The project has approached to bridge the gender gap as well as help in establishing self-esteem and
confidence. Annex 7 shows the pie-charts showing the gender segregation in the project with respect to
key indicators.
The gender approach implies that attitudes, roles and responsibilities of men and women are taken into
account, that it is recognized that both sexes do not necessarily have same access to or control over
resources, that work benefit and impacts may be different for both groups. The gender approach in this
project created that open mindedness and aimed at the fullest participation of both women and men.
Women who are active partners in the project are married and are highly responsible in meeting both
basic as well as strategic needs. Gender sensitization helped men and women to understand their roles
and responsibilities and widen their thinking from routine assumptions. Support from men in women
participation is a great achievement in the project. The other influencing family members were also
sensitized through different gender modules that extend their support by assisting women to have space
and time to attend to common good things. Though the initiation was small, the starting point has been
crucial.
Non-literate women form major segment, through participatory trainings these women have been
enabled to understand technologies and face challenges. The education level is quite high from illiterate
to post graduation that also reflects that the project with its high technical component could equally
attract the attention of variety of women. The project addressed both practical gender needs, such as
improving women’s conditions through the provision of water and sanitation closer to their houses, as
Terminal Report 13
well as strategic gender needs: improving women’s position in society by increasing her awareness of her
situation and her capacity to take decisions and influence change.
2.1.5 Community-friendly communication
APFAMGS project has ensured that bulk of the project budget, is dedicated to education and building
community processes. The greatest strength of the APFAMGS project is to offer to the farmer’s
knowledge about their own water resources and how these can be managed, and the means to collect,
and analyze data related to its availability and distribution. The farmers themselves do the data
collection, management and analysis. The farmers have the freedom to decide how they want to use the
knowledge. No solutions are provided to them and they are encouraged to deliberate on the new
knowledge to innovate or adopt appropriate interventions that would help them improve crop water
efficiency, reduce wastages, contain groundwater level decline and minimize pollution of water sources.
Capacity enhancement and training is the foundation upon which the project has been built. Capacity
enhancement and training activities have been planned for the all the different components of the
project. These activities are timed in relation to the hydrological year. In addition, need based training is
also conducted. Formal and informal techniques are used as per the subject and target group. These
techniques include cultural shows, practical training, exposure visits, exchange visits and workshops.
Training is given in all aspect of implementation, to ensure that the activities fulfill the purpose and there
is as much uniformity as possible across the project.
14 Terminal Report
Community capacity building is the key project intervention aiming at empowering the community
members with required skills and knowledge in the field of hydrology, agriculture, gender and institution
management. Annex 8 lists the different types of capacity building activities implemented by the project.
At the community level, there are various levels and types of capacity enhancement activities, from
creating awareness in the community, to technical training related to recording rainfall, and measuring
draft from observation wells. Information and knowledge is imparted to the community through
awareness generation programs, using local folk art forms such as the kalajatha, which has emerged as
a powerful and effective medium of communication.
Another important tool successfully used in the project is the quarterly newsletter (Neella Mucheta)
brought out at the project level in local language. To ensure the slang and language clarity, farmers or
contributors are encouraged to write articles/success stories in their own slang. Additionally, the
newsletter is also used by the subject experts and project staff to communicate technical information on
Geology, groundwater systems, agriculture, irrigation and other relevant topics, from time to time.
Several farmers have contributed to the newsletter with their experience in associating with the project
through their success stories. Apart from the farming community, the newsletter also attracted the
attention of government officers who wait for issue of the next newsletter and keep inquiring with the
project staff.
An Audio cassette/CD is produced by the project to highlight the ills of overuse of groundwater and ways
and means of curbing the wastage. A very popular lyricist Mr. G. Venkanna (winner of two State Level
Awards) penned songs. These songs became very popular with the farming communities and used in
later folk shows.
2.1.6 Farmer Water School (FWS)
APFAMGS adopts the FWS approach to prepare the farmers to take charge of managing their ground
water. FWS is an adaptation from FFS and follows the non-formal and participative approach for
information sharing. FWS strategy adopted by APFAMGS project promotes group learning, improves the
skills and capacities of farmers and shares knowledge amongst the farmers.
The FWS creates a knowledge cycle (or knowledge value chain) in the community of farmers along with
the supporting institution for helping the farmers to apply it to their life situation. Much of the
knowledge shared in FWS is the accumulated experience of farmers and is second-hand which has been
made explicit, in the sense in public domain rather than residing in mind or as experience.
Under the FWS umbrella, all farmers meet once every 15 days through 300 water schools to learn about
sustainable management of groundwater at the local level. Based on the understanding the farmers
adopt suitable modification in their agricultural practices that can lead to significant reductions in
groundwater use and improved crop water efficiency.
In the FWS the transfer of information is through face-to-face communication using voice, body language
(socialization) supported by training aids. Much of the learning makes use of explicit knowledge into their
understanding of the world-view. Complementary to this form of learning is the field visits, short tem and
Long Term Experiments, field workshops and exhibitions of the models from the neighboring areas.
FWS went through its first academic session beginning June 2006 until May 2007. 10,000 farmers joined
the school from 635 habitations and over 70% of the farmers showed continued attendance through out
the year and is eligible to graduate. By May 2009, the project has successfully produced 19777
Terminal Report 15
graduates including 12315 men and 7462 women. Annex 9 gives the details of FWS graduates, trained
by the project.
FWS methodology provided the confidence to the farmers make information of the data collected, need
for collective action for effective groundwater management, sharpen the farmers’ abilities to make critical
and informed decisions on crop plans to match the available groundwater resources. FWS approach
helped farmers learn how to organize themselves for sustainable groundwater management.
FWS took upon itself the task to diagnose the different problems related to groundwater depletion, and
identified number of local solutions for arresting the groundwater decline, improving water use efficiency
and enhancing the returns from the cropping system. A great contribution of FWS has been that farmer
graduates have taken the learning’s to their farm and applied the new knowledge in changing the
conventional management of groundwater to improving water use efficiency.
2.1.7 Crop Water Budgeting Workshop
The over arching theme of the project is to help community collect all relevant data to assess the
ground water balance, to help guide in crop planning. CWB workshop provides a platform for farmers
to collectively estimate the water balance at the Hydrological Unit Level. Based on the estimation farmers
project the most appropriate crop plans and thereby control groundwater over-exploitation. While CWB
helps project the safe limits of groundwater development the project does not advise on the choice of
crops. The project respects the farmer’s traditional knowledge and understands that the farmer has
enough knowledge to be able to take relevant decisions. Annex 10 provides year-wise conduct of CWB
workshops, in the project level.
16 Terminal Report
CWB workshops could help clearly define the potential risks when taking up water intensive crops as well
as Identify opportunities for water savings and improving crop water efficiency. CWB workshops helped
provided a platform for linkages with government departments for tapping schemes supporting water
savings. Analysis of CWB results (Annex 11) indicates that in majority of the project areas, CWB have
succeeded in establishing a clear correlation between groundwater availability and crop plans. Risks
associated with idealistic crop planning have been completely reduced.
CWB is seen as a path-breaking initiative by the project that has led to training of communities (men
and women) in technical data collection while help develop individual Farmer Level Crop Plans spread
over 638 habitations federated under 63 Hydrological Units in 7 districts of Andhra Pradesh. Today
based on the CWB, intelligent decisions are taken on the cropping systems without sacrificing on the
economic returns. Significant outputs include Crop diversification from the earlier 14 to 42 crops, altered
the mono crop approach to integrated farming system, and promoted adoption of number of water
saving technique contributing to improved crop water efficiency. Annex 12 lists cropped area under
different crops over the life of the project period.
2.1.8 Reduction in Groundwater Pumping
The project has succeeded in beginning to build a link between water availability and water use for
agriculture. The core message of the project, that groundwater abstraction over the long term needs to
be aligned with water availability, is taking hold. This is suggested by the emerging positive correlation
between water availability and water use in a number of HU’s. In the years when water availability is low
at the beginning of the Rabi season (either due to low rainfall and consequently low recharge, or due to
high groundwater abstractions in the kharif season decreasing availability for the Rabi season),
groundwater use is reduced in these aquifers. This dynamic is counter to the normal behavior whereby
water availability in the aquifers is not a factor influencing groundwater use, and aquifer depletion often
worsens in drier years. This path-breaking achievement is beginning to emerge in a number of HU under
Terminal Report 17
the project, and is likely to result from the impact of groundwater availability information on farmer
decision making, as agriculture accounts for the largest fraction of groundwater withdrawals.
The reductions in water use in these areas are achieved by a combination of crop diversification and
water-saving irrigation methods. Across the project area under high-water-use crops (crops with more
than 800 millimeters water requirement), is reported. In contrast, the total area under rabi paddy in
Andhra Pradesh continued to follow an upward trend, increasing by 5% around the same period.
It is important to note that farmers have not sacrificed profitability to reduce water use. Independent
evaluation of the APFAMGS project by World Bank7 revealed that project area farmers have consistently
improved their profitability, with the net value of outputs nearly doubling during the project period, with
lower and more inconsistent results in similar non-project areas (Table 1).
Net value of outputs per acre (rupees, current year prices) Hydrological unit/type of area
2008 2004 % change
Project areas: field crops
Chandrasagar 16,838 8,987 87.35
Mallapavagu 9,884 5,835 69.39
Nakillavagu 13,339 6,301 111.72
Narsireeddypallyvagu 11,208 8,378 33.78
Erravagu 7,042 5,317 32.43
Peetheruvagu 7,583 7,124 6.44
Vajralavanka 18,051 9,420 91.62
Non project areas: field crops
Nonproject areas near Chandrasagar 4,348 6,415 –32.22
Nonproject areas near Mallapavagu 3,491 2,605 34.01
Nonproject areas near Peetheruvagu 2,500 5,173 –51.67
7 World Bank unpublished report “Deep Wells and Prudence: Towards Pragmatic Action for Addressing Groundwater Overexploitation in India”. http://www.apfamgs.org/upload/PDF/world_bank_rep.pdf
18 Terminal Report
In terms of cumulative water abstractions, 42 percent of the hydrological units have consistently reduced
the Rabi draft over the three years of project operation, while 51 percent have reduced the draft
intermittently, and only 7 percent have witnessed an increase in groundwater draft during the project
period (See Annex 13). This impact is unprecedented, in terms of reductions actually being realized in
groundwater draft, and in terms of the geographic extent of this impact, covering aquifers that are
completely disconnected spread over several hundreds of communities.
Reduction in groundwater abstraction has been largely because of adoption of number of water saving
technique contributing to improved crop water efficiency. Significant reduction in groundwater use is
seen in sugarcane, sweet orange Tomatoes, Black gram, Rice Gingili, groundnut, and sunflower.
Adoption various water savings devises like drip, sprinklers and techniques like ridge & furrow check
basin, and alternate furrow supported by Vermi-compost, mulch could effectively improve the soil
moisture availability and help reduce irrigation.
The net effect of natural groundwater recharge conditions and demand side management of groundwater
is indicated by the trend of static water level (SWL) in the monitoring wells. Annex 14 shows the SWLs
on three key days of recording (May 15th, August 15th and November 15th). It is very clear that SWLs are
maintained more of less till the last season, across the project area. The decline in SWLs this season is
due to drought conditions (a rainfall deficit of 57% is reported for the entire state).
World Bank evaluation considers that APFAMGS as the first global example of large-scale success in
groundwater management by communities only through empowerment with new knowledge without any
incentives.
2.1.9 Artificial Groundwater Recharge
APFAMGS project while prioritizing on Demand Side Management has also successfully demonstrated a
systematic methodology on supply side augmentation through Artificial Groundwater Recharge (AGR)
structures essentially for favorably altering the groundwater balance. AGR is seen as an appropriate
intervention in HU subjected to over exploitation. The strategy is to trap the flash floods in the
abandoned open wells/bore wells or behind a small percolation pond/check-dam for recharging the
aquifers. This approach has another major goal of unlocking the non-productive investments caught up
in failed open wells. The methodology adopted looks at altering the groundwater recharge at the HUN
level from the existing level to significantly higher levels. The aquifers are used to store peak flows
generated during storms for reducing the disparity between existing demand and potential recharge.
AGR have been successfully demonstrated across the project area through a mix of structures such as
open well recharge, tank induced recharge, artificial injection of runoff generated from peak storms at
favorable locations8. Annex 15 lists the AGR interventions of APFAMGS and the results thereof. APFAMGS
approach to improved recharge is recognized as the appropriate model for replication for a national level
program on “Artificial Groundwater Recharge Using Open Dug wells”.
The hydrological data collected by farmers and recorded in the logbooks and Village Boards is stored in
computerized database referred to as “Habitation Resource Information System” (HRIS) at the NGO
level. HRIS stores data of individual farmers that can be queried at habitation and Hydrologic Unit level.
HRIS database of Different HU’s is integrated at NGO level. HRIS has helped organize the farmer-
collected data in a computerized format that is available for sharing with the scientific community as well
as planners.
Project level data storage is organized in dedicated software developed by the project. The data is
organized HU wise. Integration of data from several HU’s is an option available to the users. The
database structure facilitates viewing of all time series data as graphs for checking data consistency as
well compare with neighboring data sets. The data is accessed by various national and international
agencies. The data is priced for commercial users.
Data Products Catalogue9 is published annually for sharing the information on meta-data with the data
users. Farmers have successfully sold the data to number of Research Institutes, Academic Researchers
and World Bank.
Annex 16 furnishes details of the revenue generated by HUNs in the project life through sales of data and
charging the visitors.
9 Data Products Catalogue-APFAMGS Publication on Meta Data
20 Terminal Report
2.1.11 GIS Data Sets and Website
“Demystification of science for sustainable development” is the official slogan of APGAMGS Project. As
part of this slogan the project made use of technologies including Geographic Information System (GIS)
and Website operations for easy viewing by rural communities as well as other agencies. The focus is in
making GIS available to the community for accessing information about individual and shared resources
without external facilitators. With new insight on their resources in both space and time, it is expected
that tough decision making with regard to natural resources and particularly in crop planning matching
the water resource availability becomes possible. Use of GIS by communities helps avoid resource-
related conflicts as they build consensus on their availability.
In addition to the farmer collected data and secondary data, the project has developed six spatial layers
(see Annex 17) have been developed for the entire project area. Satellite Imageries are procured for
three time periods and land use changes assessed. Cropping changes adopted by the farmers over the
years for improving crop water use efficiency are captured at individual farmer level.
Communities access GIS data through “Information Kiosk”. The kiosk integrates GIS technology with
Remote Sensing, Internet and basic computations. Seven GIS themes have been created for all the HUs.
Use of satellite imageries for the same geographical area has enabled integration of remotely sensed
imageries with GIS maps. Integration of such themes has helped in updating various features as well as
for generating thematic maps. Integrated maps of GIS have helped track crop changes adopted by the
farmers over the project period.
Terminal Report 21
Information Kiosk10 has been designed by the project to help Farmers access and interact with the
computerized database. Information Kiosk provides a medium to view the data collected by different
farmers over a regional area in the form of GIS maps, graphs and charts. The kiosk also helps answer
queries related to impact of hypothetical crop changes (“what-if” scenarios) on the entire drainage
system.
The Information Kiosk is a totally screen driven (touch screen) facility with large icons displaying limited
but focused data, supported by graphics and animations. The language is local with very simple and
intuitive navigation paths. The hardware is typically a standard configuration, not generally visible to the
users. The Kiosk carries out basic computations to answer various queries raised by the farmers and
displays the results as animations, graphics and charts, which the users can understand and appreciate.
Project Web site http://www.apfamgs.org is an in-house product providing complete information on the
project and places on the public domain all publications. Data products catalogue are prepared and
uploaded on the web site for providing information to government and other users.
10 Poster on Information Kiosk made at CGIAR conference 2009 in Wageningen was awarded the first prize.
22 Terminal Report
2.2 SUPPORTING PROCESSES
2.2.1 Influencing Policies
APFAMGS project has made modest but significant in-roads into the policy arena in the area of
groundwater management. Ministry of Water Resources (MoWR), Government of India (GoI) has
recognized the need for community partnerships and participation for generation of real time data at
micro-level and its dissemination for better groundwater governance at local administrative level on a
scientific basis”. FAO-APFAMGS Project feels that this is a welcome move and this is an outcome of
continued lobbying with Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) and MOWR11. This move towards micro
basin level data gathering will help in updating the groundwater balance estimates annually as well as
give larger role for community participation in data gathering.
Government of Andhra Pradesh has already incorporated APFAMGS project methodology in the Andhra
Pradesh Community Based Tank Management Program12 with greater participation of community in data
gathering.
Empowerment of community with knowledge and skills is slowly being recognized as a viable option for
managing groundwater decline as against policing by the government, which has been almost impossible
to monitor and penalize the defaulters.
2.2.2 Local Governance
Evaluation of project data collected over 4 years indicate that in a majority of the Hydrological Units
where the project is being implemented the project has succeeded in establishing a parallel between
groundwater availability and groundwater use for agriculture. This dynamics is contrary to the the
normal behavior, when serious aquifer depletion is expected during bad monsoon years. Local
groundwater governance has helped achieve this balance.
Groundwater users as a group are looking at improved optimization of existing wells before constructing
new ones. This has led to a situation where rate of drilling of new wells has declined considerably and is
far below the state/district average. Risks associated with new investments on wells, pumps and
pipelines have led to near stagnation in energy demand as compared to the other areas of the state. All
the farmers without exception practice crop diversification and water-saving irrigation methods.
Substantial reduction in the area under high-water-use crops (crops with more than 800 millimeters
water requirement) is witnessed without affecting food and nutrition security. The cumulative changes by
crop in the total project area are fully in contrast, the total area under Rabi paddy in Andhra Pradesh
where it is continuing to follow an upward trend an increase of almost 5%.
2.2.3 Capacity Building of External Agencies by the Project
APFAMGS is continuously involved in the capacity building of external agencies including government
department officials by conducting dedicated training programs to the officials and community leaders on
Demand Side Groundwater Management.
The International Learning Workshop on community led groundwater management was organized to
participants from 16 countries. The training was aimed at acquainting the participants with the
11 Central groundwater Board note on Knowledge base http://cgwb.gov.in/KnowledgeBase.htm 12 Project Document Andhra Pradesh Community Based Tank Management http://www.apmitanks.in/apply.asp
Terminal Report 23
experiences in these aspects and highlighting the processes by which users can manage and regulate
their own demands for groundwater. It provided the participants an opportunity to interact at great
length with practicing farmers who have been monitoring and managing their groundwater resources
successfully for the last four years under the aegis of the FAO supported Andhra Pradesh Farmer
Managed Groundwater Systems Project (APFAMGS).
Additionally, some students/researchers also visited the project to study and publish their works. Annex
18 provides details of foreign visitors to the project.
Andhra Pradesh State Groundwater Department (APSGWD) deputed 25 officers from all over the state,
for training on Demand Side Groundwater Management at Muthyalapadu from 10-12th Dec 2008. The
participants were drawn from the entire state. Following the training, the government is preparing
adopting the APFAMGS concept in its work plan.
Government of Maharashtra - Water Supply & Sanitation Department, Jalswarajya Project, officers and
community leaders were trained on the concept of Demand Side Groundwater Management. The training
was carried out at BIRDS International Learning Centre Muthyalapadu, Chagalamarri Mandal, and
Kurnool District (A.P) on 25th and 26th followed by one day at Hyderabad on 28 Feb 2009.
The Irrigated Agriculture Modernization and Water Resources Management (IAMWARM) project involved
with irrigated agriculture modernization and integrated water resources management to improve the
productivity of water in Tamil Nadu sent 32 Engineers for training on Demand Side Water Management
from 16th to 18 February 2009. The training was conducted in Horsley Hills near Madanapalli, Chittoor
District, Andhra Pradesh by Gram Vikas Samastha (Partner NGO) implementing the APFAMGS project.
24 Terminal Report
Request for training programs and field exposures have been received from the Ministry of water
Resources, Govt. of India, State of Gujarat, Rajasthan and NGO’s. It is expected that in the coming days
the State and Central agencies would create the enabling environment for ensuring that community-
based initiatives receive the support for smooth functioning of local institutions, build capacities through
Non Formal Schools, take on the lessons of learning’s to implement sustainable approaches for resource
management.
Annex 19 furnishes full details of capacity building activities carried out by the project for the agencies in
the country. Annex 20 lists some Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) by the visitors to the project, while
Annex 21 furnishes FAQs posed to the project staff by the farmers.
2.2.4 Information Dissemination
APFAMGS approach of community involvement has attracted the attention of number of national and
international agencies. Invitation was extended to make presentation to the Parliamentary Forum for
Water on the methodology and achievements of APFAMGS project. The presentation was for an hour and
the discussion thereafter. The parliamentary forum on water has distinguished parliamentarians who
have handled the subject over the years. Based on the presentation enquiries are coming from State
Governments of Bihar and Gujarat.
His Excellency Dr.BOB HIENCH the Netherlands Ambassador to India visited the exhibition where
APFAMGS had put up stall as part of AP-Netherlands Bio Technology Foundation. Hans Wolff, Agricultural
Consultant and Theo. J.J. Groothuizen, Counselor, Head of Science and Technology Department from the
Embassy of Kingdom of Netherlands also visited the stall independently. Rural Farmers manned the stall
to explain to the visitors on the project activities and its impact in reducing groundwater distress. The
Terminal Report 25
Ambassador got to see the demonstration of rural farmers measuring the groundwater levels, rainfall as
well as a working model on the hydrologic cycle. The impact of the project in upgrading the skills of
farmers through FWS and De-mystification of science and Technology was well appreciated.
Totally, 28 reports were prepared including half yearly and Annual Plan and Budget. The Project has
brought out 16 books which garnered visibility at a national and international level. Representatives from
the project participated in National and International workshops and presented Project related papers. 12
Papers have been prepared and presented. Jalachakram (Hydrological Cycle) audio was prepared on
Project activities to disseminate the concept to faming community. The Audio CDs were circulated to the
farming community. Nine Video films were prepared on Project activities with the guidance of Project
Leader, Subject experts and PNGO’s. Poster on “Rural Information Kiosk” sent by FAO-APFAMGS has
been chosen as the winner of the Science Forum 2009 Poster Competition on the theme “ICTs: Enabling
Agricultural Science to Be a Social Endeavour” and of GFAR Sponsorship to participate in the Science
Forum 2009 to be held at Wageningen, The Netherlands on 16 and 17 June 2009.
A season long Training of Trainers (TOT) on Integrated Pest Management (IPM) was conducted in 2005.
During the training period, TOT-FFS news letter was prepared by the participants. They shared their
experiences during training and disseminated best practices on IPM to other farming community and
other Govt and NGO organizations. Totally, 13 FFS news letters were circulated
List of publications/presentations is furnished as Annex 22.
2.2.5 Establishing New Partnerships
APFAMGS project has been approached by Australian Council for International Agriculture Research
(ACIAR) to participate in the implementation of two of its projects in the state of Andhra Pradesh. The
projects are
Impacts of meso-scale Watershed Development in Andhra Pradesh (India) and comparative catchments
in Australia (ACIAR Project: LWR/2006/072) Building capacity of farming communities in Cambodia,
Laos, Bangladesh and India to adapt to climate change Training Workshop of Maharashtra State Officers
on Demand Side Groundwater Management (DSGM) FAO-APFAMGS project was in the process of
establishing partnership with The Irrigated Agriculture Modernization and Water Resources Management
(IAMWARM) project in Tamil Nadu for enabling farmers from APFAMGS project to disseminate their
learning’s for farmers from Tamil Nadu.
26 Terminal Report
3 Conclusions and Recommendations
The lessons emerging from the APFAMGS experience of knowledge based community management of
groundwater lead to some key conclusions and recommendations.
3.1 Conclusions
Farmer’s interests in groundwater management are linked to managing the production and livelihood
risk. Farmers may have little interest in water conservation for its own sake.
A focus on groundwater management alone is not sufficient. A package of measures to reduce the
agricultural production risks have to be offered, linking groundwater use to sustainable crop production
and the mitigation of pollution. Arguably, the project achieved water use reductions precisely because it
avoided explicit negotiation of groundwater allocation.
The active projection of well researched hydrological, agronomic and environmental information into
groundwater user communities can leverage autonomous shifts in agronomic practice and land use
planning that reduce environmental pressures and raise productivity.
Cost reduction on external input costs is achieved through a variety of methods such as: reducing the
irrigation water demand, changing cropping patterns, irrigation techniques, and soil moisture
conservation. This not only lead to improved water productivity but also resulted in good returns on the
farm product. Thus, it is clear that sustainable groundwater management need not come at the price of
sacrificing gain in agricultural incomes.
Making visible the otherwise invisible resource of groundwater is a prerequisite for building up a
collective action. Demystifying relevant sections of science, using non-formal techniques, have effectively
created a popular science movement encompassing multiple dimensions of water use and agriculture.
The focus on farmer engagement in generating and sharing knowledge on local resources is the key to
instill a sense of pride and possessiveness of the scientific knowledge, which earlier was restricted to the
realm of research institutes. This is in stark contrast with most of other natural resource management
initiatives, wherein a majority of resources and efforts are concentrated on supporting physical works
and on incentives such as subsidies for water-saving irrigation techniques. For community management
efforts to succeed, it is clear that information, education, and social mobilization need to be recognized
as core objectives.
The bottom-up approaches stemming from on-the-ground community action can be complemented by
top-down measures that can create an enabling environment at the local level. Examples of possible
policy measures that are pragmatic and can strengthen community groundwater management include
endorsement of community groundwater management institutions, and improving institutional
coordination amongst the various panchayati raj institutions dealing with different aspects of water
resources at the village level.
The successful experiences of community-based groundwater management owe much to their design
being particularly suited to the physical settings of groundwater use i.e., recharge and emptying
dynamics of hard-rock aquifers, which cover approximately two-thirds of India’s aquifer settings. While
APFAMGS could provide a model for other hard-rock settings, it is not likely to work in geographically
vast alluvial aquifers with significantly larger storage.
Terminal Report 27
The success is also because of the socio-economic set-up Andhra Pradesh, which boasts of committed
social networks at the grass-roots and a strong history of progressive social change in rural areas. It is
probable that the APFAMGS model would be significantly challenged in settings with different social
dynamics (for example, lower social capital or larger asymmetries in user populations).
Finally, it needs to be noted that the lessons emerging from the Andhra Pradesh experiments with
community-based groundwater management are preliminary, and there is no hindsight to assess the
long-term sustainability of the results achieved. Therefore, the available models of community
groundwater management would need careful and innovative piloting before they can be replicated and
scale interventions become possible.
3.2 Recommendations
The APFAMGS model is ready for replication. With an ever-increasing number of aquifers facing
overexploitation, various government agencies see the need for exploring new approaches in managing
groundwater decline. Absences of credible successful models on groundwater management have forced
the agencies to look for successful approaches. APFAMGS project has demonstrated the success of
community management of Groundwater. Central, State Government Agencies and International Donors
have been a witness to the success. Empowerment of communities through knowledge, capacity and
skills is seen as a necessity. Number of initiatives is in advanced stages of discussions for replicating the
model in different hydro-geological and socio-economic settings and needs to be adopted.
State agencies need to have a much sharper appreciation of how to nurture and sustain people’s
institutions for managing water resources. Under the Indian Constitution, States have the primary
responsibility for managing and ensuring the sustainability of groundwater resources. In addition to their
constitutional mandate, state agencies have an advantage in promoting groundwater management on
the ground. They are in a better position to facilitate cross-sectoral coordination of groundwater
resources at the most critical (state) level, promote government–stakeholder interaction (especially
considering that most state government departments have operational offices at district level, where
many of the local management measures will need to be taken), design groundwater management
approaches specific to the typologies and user needs of local aquifers.
An alternative model for groundwater legislation needs to be rolled out: The existing instruments for
controlling abstraction of groundwater through direct regulation have not halted the proliferation of
boreholes. The lack of resources for policing and absence of substantial support for penalizing the
defaulters have made a direct regulatory approach impossible to implement. The APFAMGS experience
suggests that there is a viable option for voluntary regulation by the stake holders themselves. This
needs to be driven through improved understanding of their aquifer systems and demonstrations of the
positive impacts of improved natural resource management on livelihoods.
Policies to support community-based groundwater management will be essential. State governments can
take policy action to facilitate formation of local groundwater user institutions and to ensure institutional
coordination amongst different water- and groundwater-related departments at the level of individual
aquifers.
Specific models that are recommended for ready replication are:
1) Hydrological Unit (HU) as unit of intervention and building community based institutions is replicable
in dry land areas, supported by groundwater irrigation. Even in case of large alluvial aquifers, the
28 Terminal Report
unit of intervention can be delineated through mapping of aquifer system and defining the
boundaries of the aquifer, thereby building the community based institutions at aquifer level.
2) Participatory Hydrological Monitoring in case of APFAMGS was limited only to those scientific and
socio-economic parameters that control the usage of groundwater resource. Notwithstanding with
this limitation, one can redesign the set of parameters to suite to their requirement. The bottom line
is empowering communities with skills and knowledge to collect, collate, understand implications of
their present actions and triggering discussions on possible options before taking action at the farm
level.
3) Crop Water Budgeting (CWB) at the beginning of Rabi season is crucial in case of groundwater
farmers as it is observed that the pumping reaches its peak due to little or no rainfall during that
cropping season. However, with necessary changes in the methodology, the concept of CWB is
replicable even in command areas.
4) Farmer Water Schools proved to be a powerful tool due to its approach of experiential learning cycle.
This tool is useful for educating and empowering communities with the knowledge and skills, on any
topic.
5) Rural Folk Art played a major role in generating awareness among the community at large, on key
concepts of groundwater management. This form of communication is the most powerful and
efficient, apart from being near to hearts of the people. Thus, usage of rural folk are is recommended
for any kind of developmental activity not only to ensure transparency but also to enlist willful
participation of communities in the intended program.
Terminal Report 29
List of Annexes
Annex 1 List of Partner NGOs associated with APFAMGS Project 30
Annex 2 List of PNGO Staff, per 31st August 2009 31
Annex 3 List of Hydro-meteorological Networks established under the project 32
Annex 4 List of equipment/material/assets transferred to HUNs 34
Annex 5 Data sets available per 31st August 2009 35
Annex 6 List of Registered Community Based Organizations (CBOs) 36
Annex 7 Gender balance in the project with reference to key indicators 38
Annex 8 Community Capacity Building activities implemented by the project 39
Annex 9 List of FWS graduates trained by the project 42
Annex 10 Crop Water Budgeting Workshops conducted during the project period 44
Annex 11 Schemes tapped by HUNs for efficient use of irrigation water 46
Annex 12 Area cropped under different crops during the project period 48
Annex 13 Groundwater draft during the project period 49
Annex 14 Static Water Levels in the project area during the project period 51
Annex 15 Results of Artificial Groundwater Recharge interventions of the project 53
Annex 16 Details of the revenue generated by HUNs on data sales and visitors 54
Annex 17 GIS data sets generated by the project 56
Annex 18 Foreign students/visitors to APFAMGS project 65
Annex 19 Capacity building activities conducted by project for agencies within India 66
Annex 20 Frequently Asked Question (Visitors) 69
Annex 21 Frequently Asked Question (Farmers) 70
Annex 22 Publications/presentations and other material produced by APFAMGS 71
30 Terminal Report
Annex 1: List of Partner NGOs associated with APFAMGS Project
S.N. Name ACRONYM STATION DISTRICT
1. Bharathi Integrated Rural
Development Society BIRDS Allagadda Kurnool
2. Centre of Applied Research and
Extension CARE Achampet Mahboobnagar
3. Collective Activity for Rejuvenation of
Village Arts and Environment CARVE Markapur Prakasam
4. Development Initiatives and People’s
Action DIPA Giddalur
Prakasam
5. Gram Vikas Samstha GVS Madanapalle Chittoor
6.
People’s Activity and Rural
Technology Nurturing Ecological
Rejuvenation
PARTNER Porumamilla Cuddapah
7. Society For Sustainable Agriculture
And Forest Ecology SAFE Cumbhum Prakasam
8. Social Awareness for Integrated
Development SAID Miryalaguda Nalgonda
9. Star Youth Association SYA Gooty Anantapur
Terminal Report 31
Annex 2: List of PNGO Staff, per 31st August 2009
PNGO BIRDS CARE CARVE DIPA
Secretary Mr. V. Paulraja Rao
Dr. T.N. Reddy Mr. G. Ravindra Kumar Mr. B. Yesudas
HF G. Nagaraju L.S. Goud B. Umamaheshwara Rao S. Hussain
GF K. Bhagyamma
IDF G. Dhanamjaya Rao
NFE V.G.N. Jaya Prada C.H. Sriramulu
Naidu
VC1 K. Nagaraju V. Varda Reddy P. Daya Raj N.Laxmaiah
VC2 P. Raju M.V.Reddy S. Sailaja K. Bhaskar
VC3 O.Sampat Kumar G. Ramanamma G.Elizabeth Rani P.Shantha
Kumari
DA M.Annamma M.Srinivas O.V.Suresh K. Muni Prasad
OB M. Chinna
Gurappa A. Sujatha S.K. Babu Ali
P. Chandra
Sekhar
PNGO GVS PARTNER SAFE
Secretary Mr. CH. Rambabu Mr. P. Nazeer Khan Mr. M. Madhukar Reddy
IDF G. Balaji K.K.Swamy Reddy A.P. Swamy
NFE G.S. Madhu Kumar T. Venu Gopal M.Sridevi
VC1 L.Chakrapani S.K.Abdul Razzak D. Ratnakar
VC2 K.Murali D.Murthujavali A.L.Suchitra
VC3 M.Mechappa M.Eswaraiah T.Obulesu
DA P.Murali G.Kiran Kumar A.Veera Brahmam
OB K. Subbaraju B. Pratap Kumar P.David
PNGO SAID SYA
Secretary A. Sujan Mr. S.C. Hassan
HF Y. Chandraiah
IDF A. Srinivasulu
NFE D. Karunakar
VC1 P. Karunakar M.Mahanandi
VC2 B. Syam Prasad L.Chandranna
VC3 Ch. Lalitha Kumari M.Subhanbasha
DA T. Saidulu A.Hanumantha Rayudu
OB K. Prashanth M.Srinivasulu
HF - Hydrological Facilitator
IDF - Institutional Development Facilitator
GF - Gender Facilitator
NFE - NFE Facilitator
VC - Village Coordinator
DA - Document Assistant
OB - Office Boy
32 Terminal Report
Annex 3: List of Hydro-meteorological Networks established under the project
Sno HU Name No of
Habitations
R G Station
OB Wells
Discharge
Wells
Stream
guages
BIRDS, Kurnool District 1 Chinneru 18 4 70 37
2 Rallavagu 15 5 46 25
3 Thundlavagu 7 2 33 16
4 Peddavagu 5 3 30 15
5 Lothuvagu 1 1 3 2
6 Chandravagu 4 1 13 7
7 Buchamma konetivanka 1 1 4 2
8 Konetivanka 3 1 16 8
9 Bavanasi 12 5 47 23
10 Yerravanka 4 1 19 10
11 Peddavanka 4 1 14 6
CARE, Mahabub Nagar District 12 Chandravagu 23 7 54 27
13 Mallappavagu 17 5 60 30
14 Mandavagu 20 7 65 32
CARVE, Prakasam District 15 Erravagu 4 1 12 8
16 P.Nagulavaram 3 1 6 4
17 Yadalavgu 20 6 56 30
18 Pulivagu 11 4 31 15
19 Lingojipalli vagu 5 2 22 11
20 Chinnauppuvagu 3 1 8 5
21 Kanugalavagu 10 6 39 18
22 Mekaleru 5 2 21 10
23 Naidupalli Vagu 1 0 5 3
24 Tarlupaduvagu 2 0 7 4
25 Bodicherla 1 0 3 1
26 Seetanagulavaram 4 1 8 5
27 Miitameedipalli Vagu 6 2 22 12
DIPA, Prakasam District 28 Palamotuvagu 8 2 30 12
29 Peethuruvagu 14 2 56 29
30 Uppuvagu 41 8 131 58
31 Narsireddipalli 16 3 50 21
32 Rallavagu 3 1 13 5
GVS, Chittoor District 33 Diguvaetigadda 54 10 98 56
34 Rommonivagu 13 5 40 16
Terminal Report 33
Sno HU Name No of
Habitations
R G Station
OB Wells
Discharge
Wells
Stream
guages
35 Nakkillavagu 8 2 27 14
36 Kothakunta 2 1 16 4
PARTNER, Kadapa District 37 Taduku Vagu 8 3 38 17
38 Mulabandala Vagu 14 7 53 27
39 Erravanka 22 6 83 47
40 Tandrasila Vagu 6 2 21 10
41 Bokkineru Vagu 13 5 27 12
42 Erravagu 7 2 27 12
SAFE, Prakasam District 43 Jampaleruvagu 19 8 54 16
44 Vemuleruvagu 29 6 46 11
45 Kakarla (Pedda) vagu 18 5 52 7
46 Chavatavagu 1 4 1
47 Singarayakondavagu 1 1 8 2
48 Sudhakuruvavagu 1 1 4 1
49 Bogoluvagu 1 6 1
SAID, Nalgonda District 50 Bhaskar Rao Kunta 10 4 38 14
51 Sattamma Kunta 9 3 15 10
52 Mallappa Vagu 5 2 19 7
53 Ulsai Palem 6 2 9 4
54 Nathigani Cheruvu 11 3 41 13
55 Nukanaini Cheruvu 9 4 26 9
56 Kondeshi Kunta 3 1 9 3
SYA, Anantapur District 57 Upparavanka 14 46 18
58 Vajralavaka 16 4 44 17
59 Maruvavanka 13 5 37 15
60 Bellamvanka 6 2 23 10
61 Peddavanka 15 5 24 18
62 Mynapuram vanka 5 4 12 4
63 Gooty maruvavanka 3 1 7 3
190 1948 890 48
34 Terminal Report
Annex 4: List of equipment/material/assets transferred to HUNs