Water Water for Livelihood

Water for Livelihood

We work hand in hand with local communities to plan, implement and manage projects to harvest rainwater and ensure all-year-round water for farmers, families and communities.

Water Harvesting & Recharge

We build and renovate village ponds, check dams and farm ponds to harvest rainwater and recharge groundwater.

Revival of Traditional Practices

We work with communities to revive the ancient traditional systems of water such as khadins, nadi, kuhls and dug wells.

Soil Moisture Conservation

We conserve soil moisture by building farm bunds, trenches and LSDC.

Integrated Watershed Development & Management

We work with communities to rejuvenate watersheds and restore the natural ecosystems that support water.

Irrigation Infrastructure/Lift Irrigation Schemes

We collectivise farmers into groups and help install small lift irrigation systems that brings water to farmer fields from sources.

MACRO IMPACT

60.58 MCM

Additional Water Harvested

217

Khadins

11

Watersheds

29956 Ha

under Soil & Water conservation

178

People’s Institutions for Water Stewardship

441

Village Ponds Renovated

482

Check Dams Built

1633

Farm Ponds Developed

IMPACT STORIES

agriculture ngo

Traditional Systems

ACF espouses the benefits of the revival of traditional water harvesting systems – ancient wisdom that saw our ancestors survive many a drought even in the harshest of landscapes. Communities such as Rabriyawas in Rajasthan, which was once almost uninhabitable due to a lack of water, is today a thriving agricultural hub, thanks to the restoration and rejuvenation of ancient ‘nadis’ (village ponds) by ACF, which have helped sustain life in the desert region for millennia.

water use efficiency

Converting Mined Out Pits

Ambuja Cements Limited operates open cast mines to supply raw material for making cement. Upon mining the materials, wide pits are created, ranging in depth from 5-7 metres. ACF has converted these mined out areas into water bodies such as artificial lakes and reservoirs, by diverting the surface water run-off into the pits. It’s an innovative solution to addressing the water problem in some of the remotest parts of the country.

water use efficiency

Renovating Kuhls

Farmers in Darlaghat, Himachal Pradesh, face a dual problem which inhibits their ability to run an enterprise – availability of water, and then access to that water for crop irrigation in their fields. Working together in groups, with support from ACF, farmers are revitalising watersheds and springs to address the issue of availability. And they are renovating ancient Kuhls to channelise that water directly to their fields, in order to provide direct access. The results have been transformative.