💧 What is Water Harvesting?

💧 What is Water Harvesting?

Water harvesting is the process of collecting and storing rainwater, surface runoff, or excess water from natural or artificial sources for later use. It is especially critical in agriculture for managing water during dry spells, improving crop yields, and conserving groundwater. ⸻ 📂 Types of Water Harvesting 1. Rooftop Rainwater Harvesting • Description: Collecting rainwater from rooftops through gutters into storage tanks or recharge pits. • Example: In Rajasthan, houses use rooftop systems to collect monsoon rain for domestic and small-scale irrigation. 2. Surface Runoff Harvesting • Description: Capturing rainwater runoff from land and directing it to tanks or reservoirs. • Example: In urban Bengaluru (India), parks and roads are designed to redirect runoff into recharge pits. 3. Check Dams / Nala Bunds • Description: Small dams built across seasonal streams to slow water flow and increase infiltration. • Example: In Ahmednagar, Maharashtra, check dams have revived dry rivers . 4. Farm Ponds / Dugout Ponds • Description: Excavated ponds on farms to collect rainwater or canal overflow for irrigation. • Example: In Telangana, government schemes under the “Mission Kakatiya” initiative. 5. Percolation Tanks • Description: Tanks that store water and allow it to seep underground, recharging groundwater. • Example: In Tamil Nadu, percolation tanks are used widely in drought-prone districts. 6. Contour Bunding and Trenches • Description: Structures built along land contours to trap rainwater and reduce runoff. • Example: In Bundelkhand, contour trenches helps conserve soil moisture. 7. Recharge Wells and Shafts • Description: Deep structures used to direct water into underground aquifers. • Example: In Hyderabad, recharge wells are built in parks to address falling groundwater levels. 🌱 Role of Water Harvesting in Agriculture 1. Drought Mitigation • Water harvesting provides backup water during droughts. • 📍 Example: In Marathwada, Maharashtra, water harvesting structures have helped farmers grow crops during dry years. 2. Groundwater Recharge • Increases underground water availability for irrigation and drinking. • 📍 Example: In Punjab, rooftop rainwater harvesting in schools helps recharge over-exploited aquifers. 3. Enhanced Irrigation Supply • Reduces dependency on erratic monsoons or unreliable canal water. • 📍 Example: In Kenya, smallholders use sand dams to irrigate vegetable crops throughout the year. 4. Improved Crop Yield and Diversification • 📍 Example: In Nepal’s hill regions, water harvesting has allowed farmers to grow high-value crops . 5. Soil Moisture Conservation • Helps retain moisture in root zones, reducing irrigation demand. • 📍 Example: In Ethiopia, water harvesting combined with mulching improved maize productivity. 6. Reduces Dependency on External Sources • 📍 Example: In Andhra Pradesh, farmers report increased self-reliance due to farm ponds.