Activities within the grant:
In January 2002, the Trust supported the AKRSP(I), Ahmedabad, in implementing a three-year pilot, focused on 15 villages on the Mangrol coast of Junagadh district.

This project involved:

	Construction of water-harvesting structures for ground water recharge
	Construction of roof rainwater harvesting tanks (RRWHT), well sealing and percolation wells for drinking water
	Propagation of horticulture and water saving technologies, such as drip irrigation and sprinklers
	Farm bunding for soil and water conservation
	Training farmers and other beneficiaries on water saving technologies, horticulture, agricultural demonstrations, health and hygiene, etc.

Phase I of the project ended in March 2005.

The lessons learnt during the Phase I were kept in mind while designing Phase II, which commenced in July 2005. Phase II covers 28 villages in Mangrol, Malia and Veraval talukas of Junagadh district, including 15 villages covered in the earlier phase.

The objectives of the project are:

	To generate wider awareness about the deteriorating conditions resulting from salinity ingress, and its solutions
	To promote adoption of water efficient agronomic practices and devices
	To continue to develop a set of replicable models for community-managed economically sustainable drinking water schemes
	To develop a model on principles of river basin treatment to augment the water resources
	To assist village institutions to evolve and implement strategies already tested

The project is being implemented through village level institutions, with the village-level ‘Pani Samiti’ being central to all activities. Project activities involve the following:

	Generating wider awareness: AKRSP(I) is organising various events on salinity such as padyatras, street theatre and melas. These mediums for mass communication have been extremely successful during Phase I. Other activities involve:
		Developing appropriate communication material particularly regarding efficiency of water usage
		Exposure visits
		Training
		Documentation and dissemination through events, print media and radio
	Promoting adoption of water efficient agronomic practices, crops and devices: Interventions initially focus on demonstrating the impact of devices that use water efficiently in the partially saline zone in a concentrated manner. Other interventions involve:
		Promotion of horticulture
		Setting up demonstration plots on farmer fields
		Setting up experimental farms
		Training sessions on different technologies
		Studies on appropriate crops along with their economic analysis
		Development of supply chains for effective marketing and processing of agriculture produce
	Promoting economically sustainable drinking water schemes: This is mainly focused on the saline zone. Physical interventions involve:
		Roof rainwater harvesting tanks
		Percolation cum drinking water wells, and hand pumps
		Repair and restoration of existing water supply schemes
		Installation of reverse osmosis plants in select villages
	Focus is laid on ensuring that systems are put in place for Operations and Maintenance (O&M), and the sustainable use of drinking water schemes.
	Treating streams to augment ground water: Two types of treatments are being undertaken. In the upper reaches, ground water recharge is being carried out with percolation tanks and check dams, while in the lower coastal belt, recharge is undertaken with farm bunding etc.
	Strengthening of existing village institutions to implement strategies: In addition to strengthening ‘Pani Samitis’, two village institutions are being developed as Resource Centres, which would house communication material and personnel for extension. Capacity building and skill development is being undertaken through leadership and technical training over the project period.