JM Financial Foundation (JMFF) has been implementing the Integrated Village Development Project in a cluster of seven villages and 15 hamlets of Mokhada block in Palghar, Maharashtra. Over the years, the project has attempted to establish the non-necessity of relying on large, constructed water conservation structures, by promoting continuous Contour Trenches (CCTs) along hill slopes in some of the most water-scarce areas of the block. A total of 10,794 CCTs were dug and deepened year on year, leading to in-situ water conservation, and natural recharge of groundwater, while also preventing run-off of surface water in the abundant monsoons in this region. Besides, the project has promoted rainwater harvesting with the digging of 294 small farm ponds (jalkunds).
Commenting on the project, Puja Dave, Executive Director and Head CSR, JM Financial Group, said, “Our efforts in Mokhada block have been focusing consistently on structured grassroots interventions, reaping visible results over the years. A region known for water crises, but surviving on agriculture, like Mokhada, needed focused investments in sustainable modes of water conservation, that are easily understood and adapted at a scale. Every summer, from April to June, CCTs have been dug, and we aim at digging further in the coming year. The trenches dug to date, cover an area of 180 acres, and have provided farmers, especially those from the Katkari community with an opportunity to earn locally, and not migrate at the beginning of the year.” Complementing water conservation, the Foundation has also supported the plantation of 1,722 saplings of mango and cashew, which beyond safeguarding soil health, also yields economic benefits for the landowning farmers.
Being a central component of JM Financial Foundation’s intervention, water harvesting and conservation feed into the objective of enhancing farmers’ livelihoods. Since its initiation in 2018, the project has worked on enhancing agricultural yield, encouraging multi-cropping and farming in two seasons. These efforts have entailed regular, scientific training, followed by advanced agri-inputs being provided to 1,100+ marginal and small farmers, handheld throughout.
Dovetailing initiatives in agriculture and water conservation are efforts made by the Foundation to link the community to public schemes and programmes designed for them. With the intervention of two helpdesks set up and run at Ase and Beriste Gram Panchayats, the Integrated Village Development Project has linked farmer families with benefits worth over INR 7 crores thus far.
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