Reviving Farming in Disaster Impacted Areas, a case study

Case Study 1


Himmotthan has been working extensively in agriculture revival since the 2013 Kedarnath disaster, across the main disaster hit valleys, and more recently in 2016, piloted it’s first immediate, post disaster agriculture revival project. In 7 villages of Silyara cluster, Tehri, on May 28th 2016, flash floods due to heavy rainfall triggered a series of landslides, burying fertile agriculture fields with mud, rocks and debris; destroying standing crops, nurseries, vegetable gardens, homes, markets and schools. The floods ruined up till 75% of agriculture land in impacted villages. Two main channels which supplied irrigation to 13 villages were damaged, hitting cultivation. Of seven, 5 villages were severely affected. Himmotthan carried out immediate relief, distributing food, shelter, bedding, solar lamps, water filters, sanitation kits to 406 families, along with which, for those whose fields were silted, agricultural/ digging tools. The teams organized meetings in villages discussing options for agricultural revival. With experts, rainfed, hardy and short duration crops were identified, to give better yields and nutrition, and reduce immediate vulnerability (these included Urad, Okra, Maize, Basmati rice by direct sowing, and French bean). Agriculture tool kits were supplied were used to clear the looser debris, but the fields where planted as they lay, without too much labour, basically using a No-till approach. Rapid trainings on improved techniques with simultaneous arrangements for input supplies took place. Despite the rough fields, results for the new, rain-fed crops were encouraging: (i) introduced basmati var. Pusa 1509 - 26.5 Q/ ha, (ii) Urad (black gram) - 13.75 Q/ ha, (iii) Okra - 20.5 Q/ ha, (iv) Maize - 23.5 Q/ha. Though yields were lower than State averages the pilot worked very well. Farmers were delighted by the understanding that a landslide hit field could yield, giving needed nutrition and contributing directly to food security in a post-disaster season. Fodder was an additional output of the basmati, urad and maize crops. Farmers also were able to sell the okra, urad and maize in local markets. The French bean crop however failed due to heavy rainfall during the period.

Himmotthan Head Office

193, Vasant Vihar, Phase-2

Behind Shri Guru Ram Rai Public School

District-Dehradun

Uttarakhand, India - 248006

Contact Number : (0135)- 2760728, 2761796


Himmotthan WATSAN Office

41, Vasant Vihar, Phase-2

District-Dehradun

Uttarakhand, India - 248006

Contact Number : (0135)- 2762966


Himmotthan Regional Offices
1. Kumaun Region-Almora

(Mohalla Talla Galli, Jakhan Devi, Almora, Uttarakhand India, 263609)

2. Garhwal Region Office- Chamoli

Near Petrol Pump, Gopeshwar,District Chamoli, Uttarakhand, India

3. Garhwal Region Office- Jadipani

Gram Saud, Jadipani, Chamba Block, District Tehri Garhwal, Uttarakhand, India

 
4. Himmotthan Society/Tata Trusts PMU Leh

C/o Advocate Otsal Wangdus near Postal Colony
Housing Colony Leh - 194101 (Ladakh), India
Tel: 01982-253553

 
Designed and Developed by MIS UNIT HIMMOTTHAN