Water is one of the most precious resources we have on this earth, and it is under increasing stress. Parachute Kalpavriksha Foundation has taken multiple initiatives in this area that have led to a positive impact.

Parachute Kalpavriksha not only encourages farmers to take up water conservation activities but also provides financial support for the construction of farm ponds. Overexploitation of groundwater has led to many challenges for farmers in recent times. With lower rainfall and frequent droughts, the issue has only been exacerbated. At times, farmers have been forced to buy water for farming during dry seasons.

Farm pond construction helps recharge groundwater levels by enabling the absorption of rainwater into the ground. Not only does the groundwater level increase, but the sweetness of the water also increases as more fresh water tops up the saline groundwater.

Farmers can benefit from the higher groundwater level for domestic purposes through bore wells throughout the year. Kalpavriksha Foundation has constructed more than 350 farm ponds till FY 2021, and more than 46 crore litres of water storage potential have been generated.

We have also tried some new-age water conservation techniques like Bhungroo and Urdhavam. Bhungroo is a water management system that injects and stores excess rainfall underground and lifts it out for use in dry spells. Adoption of this technology has decreased salt deposits on soil and increased fresh water supplies, saving farmers from drought.

Artificially recharging aquifers by adding rainwater to underground water reservoirs enables the communities to continue farming for more than half of the year. The non-saline rainwater, when mixed with the underground saline water, brings down the salinity of the groundwater, making it fit for agricultural use.

Farmers are educated and trained to conserve water in a systematic manner, especially during the rainy season. They are educated on the best farm practices to be carried out according to calendar months, i.e., the activities to be carried out each month in order to get the maximum benefits from natural resources.

The water conservation initiatives of the Kalpavriksha Foundation not only "made a difference" in the lives of farmers but also helped the environment by conserving this precious resource provided by Mother Nature.