Drought fails before rainwater harvesting here

Sulugodu farmer Sooraj thrives by making best use of little rain received

In spite of the district experiencing drought and deficit rainfall for three consecutive years, a green carpet is spread in a field at Sulugodu in Virajpet taluk.

With a focus on improving the water table in barren pockets through rainwater harvesting system, farmer Ajjikutteera M Sooraj has been able to showcase success stories.

The successful execution of rainwater harvesting system has given him the confidence to overcome the drought situation on his seven-acre farm land. Crops like coffee, cardamom, black pepper, arecanut, mango and banana thrive on his farm land even when the neighbourhood land is dry.

Sooraj and his family were depending on water in a 50-foot deep well since 1979 for household chores as well as to irrigate the farm land. Over a period of time, the water-level in the well declined and the well became completely dry in 1994, leading to the withering of crops. In spite of deepening the well and sinking a borewell, the family could not get the required quantity of water. Then they decided to go for rainwater harvesting.

Sooraj has inspired hundreds of farmers to go for rainwater harvesting to find a solution to water woes. He has conducted over 800 awareness programme on water conservation.

Narrating the success story, he said, ‘Recharging the borewell in the land was initiated in 2003. Since then, every drop of water was kept from going waste on the seven acre land. As a result, the groundwater level improved drastically.’

Motivated from the success, he dug a small open well and ensured that all the rainwater from the roof of his house and coffee yard percolated into the well. About 56 lakh litres of water percolate into the ground from the roof and coffee yard of his land. This further increased the groundwater level. The paddy fields are no longer arid even during peak summer.

‘Water is essential for agriculture and industries. If the drought continues, then the future is bleak. Hence, collecting the water is inevitable. The experiment which I started in 2003 has yielded success and all the worries on water have disappeared,’ he said.

‘Balele Gram Panchayat, which was receiving on an average of 54 to 60 inches of rainfall, has been getting showers up to only 30 inches in the last few years. This is a matter of concern.

The sinking of borewells and open wells is not sufficient. Instead, rainwater recharge technique should be initiated, said Sooraj.
DH News Service