Agricultural Improvements in Bundelkhand

Gramin Vikas Vigyan Samiti (GRAVIS), Jodhpur, Rajasthan

 Contact: Dr. Prakash Tyagi

Dates: September 2017 – August 2020

Total Budget: Rs.17,97,300

2021 Budget: Rs. 5,99,100

This project is promoting agricultural improvements and community development in five villages in a drought-prone area of Bundelkhand in Uttar Pradesh (two continuing from a previous project and three new ones). GRAVIS has built khadins (low dikes) around five farm fields for better water retention and increased crop yield, erected fencing around several farm plots to protect crops against animals, built ten compost pits for fertilizer, and desilted and renovated several community ponds. They are also establishing community seed banks to provide a reliable source of crop seeds adapted to local conditions, and they have organized village education sessions on nutrition and water quality. Nutrition gardens planted in the yards of ten villagers are now productive, and water absorption and recharging pits have been built to recycle household wastewater. GRAVIS has established Village Development Committees and women’s Self-Help Groups in the three new villages.  Finally, GRAVIS has provided training on ways of improving the water supply for domestic use, including construction of Bio-Sand Filters (BSF) and underground recharging pits for wastewater and overflow.

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