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Krishi Kund for agroecological transition of degraded lands: Microsite for improved production and ecosystem services

International Water Management Institute (IWMI), India

Abstract

Decades of rampant land degradation have rendered many areas unsuitable for cultivation. In Madhya Pradesh, India, land degradation along with difficult terrain, and poor soil conditions make significant portions of land unfit for cultivation leading to the migration of tribal communities. These degraded or sporadically cultivated lands are caught in a vicious cycle leading to further degradation.

A cost-effective agroecological approach to transform degraded lands into productive assets using natural amendments is crucial for improving agricultural diversity, soil health, and overall ecosystem services. It also helps alleviate the pressure of intensive farming on other lands. Moreover, this practice holds promise for reversing migration among tribal communities.

The CGIAR’s Agroecology Initiative, in collaboration with local tribal farmers and stakeholders, has co-designed an innovative practice locally popularized as Krishi Kund (micro-site improvement with agriculture pits). This practice focuses on improving micro-sites rather than entire parcels of land using organic amendments. In this method, small cylindrical pits (did: 60cm, depth 60cm) are excavated at 1.2m intervals, filled with locally available organic materials such as cow dung compost, vermicompost, plant biomass, and organic inoculants, and then covered with sieved soil. This approach improves approximately 20% (6450 pits per hectare) of the land area, resulting in a similar yield of fully restored land.

Circular depressions around each pit serve as micro catchments, conserving rainwater on-site. This technique effectively enhances soil physical condition, fertility, water retention, thermal buffering leading to successful crop establishment and production. Drought tolerant crops viz pigeon pea, caster for the poor water availability sites and other cash crops including vegetables at sites of water availability are being grown. A two-year recovery period was estimated for the cost incurred on land restoration.

Krishi Kund offers a resource-efficient alternative for restoring degraded lands by concentrating organic materials within specific areas and minimising soil loss. This method aligns with the goal of achieving Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) and can significantly contribute to fulfiling Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 15.3, which aims to end desertification and restore degraded land.

Keywords: Agroecology, land degradation, land restoration, natural farming, soil health, water conservation

Contact Address: Sudharsan Malaiappan, International Water Management Institute (IWMI), Delhi, India, e-mail: s.maliappancgiar.org