Activities within the grant:
In January 2002, the Trusts supported Ambuja Cement Foundation (ACF), Ambujanagar, in implementing a pilot programme for three and a half years, which focused on 20 villages of Kodinar and Sutrapada talukas 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 ended in September 2005 and resulted in:

	Benefiting 2,181 households across 15 villages in Kodinar and Sutrapada talukas
	631 households benefiting from RRWHT, and 587 households benefiting from percolation-cum-drinking water wells
	Water-harvesting through recharge activities increasing ground water levels in project villages by nearly 30 feet. As a result, farmers took up Rabi crops, in addition to Kharif. Overall, agricultural productivity increased 1.5 to 3 times.

The lessons learnt during the Phase I were kept in mind whilst designing Phase II, which commenced operations in January 2006. This phase covers 17 villages in Kodinar and Sutrapada talukas of Junagadh district (including five new villages, not covered under Phase I). At the same time, fresh projects were also initiated in five villages of Jafarabad taluka of Amreli district.

Phase II focuses on developing:

	An integrated package to combat salinity with active participation of local communities
	A cost effective and innovative demand and supply water management and agriculture model, for efficient utilisation of available water
	A network with government and development agencies for faster replication of successful interventions with active participation of various stakeholders

The Phase II project in Kodinar and Sutrapada taluka involves the following activities:

	Enhancing water efficiency through the promotion of less water intensive crops: This involves:
		Putting 400 hectares under horticulture plantations (cashew, fig, sapota, coconut, etc)
		Placing 1,050 hectares under alternate crops such as Bt cotton, castor, sesamum, pigeon pea, pulses, vegetables, etc.
		Promoting homestead kitchen gardens, bio-waste trenches and organic farming
	Water Resource Development & Management: This component involves:
		Constructing 10 km of link canals interlinking existing ponds
		10 percolation tanks being renovated or deepened, five check dams repaired, 30 percolation wells constructed in river beds, and 300 existing wells recharged, to help recharge ground water
	Promotion of water saving technologies: To promote the judicious use of water in agriculture, sprinkler and drip irrigation systems are being promoted, covering 300 farmers under sprinkler irrigation and 50 hectares under drip irrigation
	Animal husbandry: Under this, three key activities are underway:
		40 acres of fodder plots are being developed as demonstration plots, in order to reduce the shortage of fodder
		100 families are being provided support to purchase better breeds of milch cattle, especially the indigenous Gir breed of cows
		Nine cooperative dairies, based around women’s Self Help Groups (SHG) are being formed for marketing of milk
	Drinking water programme: During Phase I of the project, 630 RRWHTs were constructed. The success of this intervention led to an increased demand from other coastal villages suffering from drinking water problems. Consequently, 500 new RRWHTS are being constructed over the project period in the project villages. In addition, 10 new drinking water wells are also being dug. Focus is on ensuring that systems are put in place for O&M, and the sustainable use of drinking water schemes.

The project in Jafarabad taluka (Amreli district) builds on the work started in this area by ACF under different watershed projects. The Jafarabad region suffers from low rainfall and increasing problems caused by salinity ingress and fluoride contamination of drinking water.

In addition, agriculture in the area is backward, and suffers from lack of irrigation facilities and agri-inputs. The project involves the following activities:

	Enhancing water use efficiency through promotion of less water intensive cropping patterns: The following agriculture enhancing activities are being carried out:
		100 hectares of salinity resistant horticulture crops with barbed wire fencing, and 50 hectares of boundary plantations in project villages
		150 hectares under salt resistant agricultural crops that require less water
		Organic farming and vermi- composting support to 50 farmers
		Biogas plants to 50 households
	Water resource development and management: The area has huge potential for harvesting rainwater through groundwater recharge, and widening and deepening of riverbeds. Over the three-year project period, 10 percolation tanks would be constructed, and the widening and deepening of riverbeds would be carried out. In addition, five check dams would also be constructed. 25 percolation wells are proposed in riverbeds to help increase groundwater recharge.
	Promotion of water saving technologies: This component is being implemented in conjunction with horticulture plantations. 10 acres of land, covering 50 farmers, is to be used for demonstrating these cutting-edge technologies.
	Animal husbandry: ACF plans to set up 300 fodder plots, and will help 100 families purchase quality milch cattle. In addition, five cooperative dairies are being proposed for the marketing of milk and milk produce Animal husbandry activities would be facilitated through improved veterinary services, promotion of indigenous breeds, setting up of women’s milk marketing cooperatives, and developing markets for dairy products.
	Drinking water programme: Some activities to mitigate the drinking water problems of the area include:
		Construction of 150 RRWHTs in the five project villages
		Construction and installation of two community drinking water wells, with pipelines to stand posts, and three hand pumps.