For years, farmers in Mandla district produced only one crop.
But with the adoption of the 'Medh Bandhan' water conservation
method they are producing two crops a year. The method has also
reduced their dependence on forest produce with which they used
to supplement their livelihoods. Prabal Sipaha, CEO of Mandla
Zila Panchayat, shared the success story at a two-day workshop
on decentralisation in Bhopal, ogranised by NGO Inclusive Media
for Change, with the support of the United Nations Development
Programme and India's Planning Commission. "Mandla had been
drought-prone for long and water conservation efforts were
limited due to lack of embankments in the area. In such a
scenario, farmers were unable to produce two crops in a year,"
said Sipaha, explaining how things changed when authorities and
people joined hands to revive traditional mud embankments.
Sipaha said the second crop had transformed the agricultural
economy of the district in just three years. Only 23 percent of
the land here was arable and of