An Overview Of Our Solution
In broader framework, WADI is an approach of natural resource management, adoption of sustainable farming practices and the overall socio-economic elevation of rural communities. This tree based farming model has proved successful in providing sustained incomes for the farmers in the rain fed areas. Has also helped in converting the unproductive waste lands of tribal families in to productive assets while also ensuring numerous other ecosystem services in the region. A well-developed Wadi plot becomes a rich ecosystem that can sustain several other income-generating activities like dairy farming, which also provides manure to keep trees and crops healthy.
WADI approach thus has many components which makes it ecologically sustainable, economically viable and socially inclusive and climate resilient !
Who is this solution impacting?
Community Type
Rural
Additional Information
- Population Impacted:
- Continent: Asia
General Information
Organization type
Sin fines de lucro/No Gubernamental
Ecosystem (select all that apply)
Forests
Population impacted
Today WADI has touched near about 5628 villages
Challenge
Size of agricultural area
The wadi plot has agricultural, horticultural and forestry species in 0.4-1.0 ha of land. Today nearly 71914 ha of area is under this model in India through BAIF’s own initiative.
Production quantity
Per wadi of one acre the production varies as per the species chosen . The production includes fruits , fuel wood, grasses, crop yields , biomass /dry leaves, bamboo/ timber , vegetables
People employed
Wadi as promoted by BAIF alone covers nearly 2 lakhs families .Since wadi is practiced as a family farming and is promoted as a model of self-employment it provides productive engagement to minimum 2 lakh farmers and maximum 5 lakhs farmers today
Solution
Describe your solution
Approach taken is to build around the local, natural resources using the inherent strength that Tribal Communities has . WADI a tree based farming system combining Agri-horti- forestry with Water and Soil resource development to address the issue of poor land quality and limited water availability. This was first introduced as a family based approach using participant’s marginal land. Besides the physical unit of the farm, the wadi programme addresses a number of issues that have an indirect bearing on farm productivity. Thrust was led of introduction of science and technology tools with focus on its demystification . The programmes have evolved in partnership with local communities, through joint assessment of their needs and resources, followed by choice of appropriate solutions. Gradually around the core activities such as Agro-horti-forestry, Soil and water conservation, Water resource development, many other approaches for socio- economic development such as women empowerment, skill building, entrepreneurship development, nursery raising, graft and vermin compost preparation ,Homestead activities ,Agro-business development ,Development of allied livelihoods ( Vermi compost / grafts preparation ) ,Quality of life interventions for health , hygine and sanitation , building of People’s organizations Etc. could also be introduced around core wadi activities to make it more holistic and multi-component programme.
Implementation
Describe your implementation
The set of activities included ,
1. Development of tree based farming model in family-owned plots of around one acre, along with plantation
of a number of multi-purpose tree species along the boundaries of plots
2. Measures to preserve and enrich soil cover
3. Measures to ensure adequate supply of water to trees and crops
4. Promotion of nurseries, vermicomposting, backyard poultry, nutrition gardens.
5. Building people-based agro-businesses to ensure good returns to producer-families
6. Leveraging locally available resources for income-generation
7. Improving health and nutrition status.
8. Providing an institutional base for community participation
WADI was first introduced by BAIF as a need based, context specific development intervention is now replicated and up scaled to cover many more families, many more states and many more land area involving BAIF’s associate organizations in other states of India . Looking at the success the program, WADI approach has been internalized by NABARD and Government .The program is now up scaled with their involvement .The Government officials came out with required policy recommendations for adoption of WADI approach under their schemes . NABARD has created its own fund out of profit to further replicate this model across INDIA .
Key success factors are :
Availability of natural resource with families
Readiness to work on own lands for gainful self-employment ‘
Tribal communities affinity to work with trees in their own villages
Availability of family labour for engagement in program
People’s participation and ownership of program
Dedicated financial support by government initially and NABARD later on
Technical support ,M& E inputs from NABARD and other experts
Constraints were in the form of need to have a dedicated team for establishment of program for at least 3 years in the field .
External connections
KfW –German Federal Bank , German Development Corporation and NABARD – (National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development India) have been major supporters for WADI program . Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India and State Tribal Development Departments also provided required support during different phases of WADI program . Tribal communities were involved in different stages of program evolution . BAIF has been able to create synergies with several ongoing development schemes of government . BAIF’s internal subject matter experts also played important role in over all shaping of program .
The program today stands as a evidence of required program approach leading to :
1. livelihood impact, including impact on income, migration and livelihoods base
2. Impact on food security, nutritional and basic health status
3. Positive impact on capacity and skills of participants
4. Example of participation and role of women in family decision-making and development activities
5. Example of environmental impact, including impact on soil and water resources, biomass production
6. Example of Providing women an opportunities for advancement through group efforts
7. Forming and nurturing producer organizations involving local communities
Results
What is the environmental or ecological challenge you are targeting with your solution?
Rural India is typically facing problem of poverty amidst plenty . India has huge % of land as cultivable waste land. There is absence of any model to convert these marginal lands in to productive assets as well as policies supporting sustainable land management are not in existence. Such lands thus remains fallow, unattended by its owner, are exposed to rains and soil erosion. This also results in gradual loss of vegetative cover, conversion of marginal lands in to waste lands and loss of useful habitats for regions biodiversity . This is one of the pressing problem in India In India, many tribals possesses such lands which are not fit for typical agriculture food crops but are fit for tree based farming /agro horti forestry there is thus need to optimally use this land resource in order to develop suitable livelihoods for communities in ecologically sound manner . The tribal communities and small and marginal farmers have less lands .
Describe the context in which you are operating
WADI program got evolved in tribal setting of South Gujarat first . Today WADI is replicated in other tribal parts of India which have unique characteristics in the form of poverty amidst plenty. There are nearly 8.6% of population which are tribal and these are staying on nearly 15% of India’s geographical area. The region once rich in natural resources now has degrading base of natural resources, low land holding , unproductive soils , scarcity of water , loss of vegetation, absence of any other livelihood support systems, Practice of rain fed agriculture, mostly using obsolete methods , Farming practiced mostly for subsistence , eroding base of nutritious crops and food resources resulting in an issue of malnutrition , lack of any other fall back mechanism in the region and therefore distress migration adopted by many poor tribal families as a coping mechanism Migration further leads to other forms of deprivations for the communities. Migration also results in neglect of land resource of a families back in village .WADI was evolved to try and work with available local land resource with the families which was put to use by adopting scientific land management techniques and principles of ecology and tree based farming which will ultimately help building long term productive assets for self-employment for a migrating family.
How did you impact natural resource use and greenhouse gas emissions?
WADI brings marginal or cultivable wastelands which were otherwise prone to further degradation and erosion under vegetation . Once the WADI activities are introduced, the natural regeneration process sets in . The adoption of program also results in to many indirect benefits in the form of generation of many eco system benefits , improvement in surrounding soil and water conditions, availability of biomass, generation of biomass , natural mulch, The land cover and ground flora increases due to conducive micro climate. The availability of forestry species on wadi plot for the use of family also helps reducing the biotic pressure on forest .
The vegetation, mulching and green cover has helped improving the ground water recharge in the region .Thus has helped irrigation potential and possibility of additional crops in the vicinity
There are satellite imageries which shows that the land which was exposed and degraded is now densely vegetated . This also has positive impact on region’s climate
Language(s)
Which language(s) are spoken in the area where your solution is implemented?
Water
Has Reduced soil erosion and fertilizer loss through suitable land treatment. Has preserved and enriched the soil cover, reduce speed and impact of rainwater runoff, Increased soil-moisture content and harvesting potential of rainwater. Increased availability of water for irrigation and domestic use.
Food Security/Nutrition
Improved food security. For participating tribal families who were otherwise malnourished. Enhanced the agriculture production through improved agriculture practices and efficient water management by adopting suitable techniques. Led to Increase in crops production from available agricultural land.
Economic/Sustainable Development
Has led to Reduction in migration. Resulted in sustainable income-generation from non-timber forest produce. Decrease in time required for collecting water, fodder, fuelwood, etc.
Climate
Reduction in land degradation; conversion of wastelands into productive assets . Tree based farming system has good resilience to climate change / fluctuation in rainfall.Led to Increase in fodder availability with reduced pressure on forests
Sustainability
The Trees that are planted under the program start fruiting and providing multiple benefits in 3- 5 years . This leads to generation of income or saving of money . The trees once established continues to give income up to atleast 15 years . These have good resilience to climate change / fluctuation in rainfall . Thus WADIs once established gives sustained income to families. Thus program is economically viable and long term sustainable .
The support is required to establish wadi for 3- 5 years in case of poor and small land holders who do not have cash available during first phase of WADI
Return on investment
Based on the positive impact and calculation of returns by many evaluation missions earlier, the allocative efficiency is found out to be good. A typical 1 acre 0.4 ha wadi will need an investment of Rs 70000( 1.000 EUR) The income starts from first year itself
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Replication and Scale
How could we successfully replicate this solution elsewhere?
WADI approach needs to be replicated further covering many more families and marginal lands across India .
Currently some efforts for replication of WADI model are done by NABARD by creating its’ own fund. But there is need to have a Resource Support Organization to facilitate further replication with quality .