Due to the tireless efforts and encouragement of Saurashtra Jaldhara Trust, effective water harvesting work has been done in the villages. They surveyed the villages and interviewed the farmers there and got information about what and how many benefits have been obtained from the water storage scheme.
- Increase in farm production :
Saurashtra Jaldhara Trust’s campaign has greatly increased farm production. In AD 1971, the agricultural production of Gujarat was a total of 7000 crores, it has increased to 111000 crores today according to the statistics of the Department of Agriculture. Similarly, the price of agricultural land has also doubled to triple in many villages.
The water table has risen by an average of 14 meters due to the water harvesting scheme. Some wells which were empty for the last thirty-thirty years have also got water. As a result of the scheme so far, water levels in one lakh eighty thousand wells have risen.
- Drinking water was available :
Due to the collective water storage scheme, in many villages where water had to be supplied by tankers for the last fifteen years in summer, now water is not required to be procured from tankers coming above the water table due to the water storage scheme and drinking water is available only from local wells.
Ground water has been raised through water harvesting scheme and water quality has improved. This has improved the health of the people. Fluoride levels have improved by 35% in many places.
The required water for agriculture was made available through the water storage scheme. Therefore, perennial farming has become possible in some villages. Hence the farm laborers of the village have not only got more work but they are getting work for the whole year. In this way the amount of rural employment has increased. Apart from this, farm laborers have also received higher rates of labour.
- Improve the environment :
Many villages in Saurashtra have planted trees due to rising water levels in the ground and receiving water through the water harvesting campaign of Saurashtra watershed. Hence many villages which were barren seven years ago now have green trees and greenery. In many villages of Saurashtra, the amount of trees has increased today than before.
- Advantage in power consumption :
Before the water table went deep, water had to be drawn from very deep, so electricity was used more, now due to water storage schemes, relatively less electricity is used. Hence farmers have got proportional relief in electricity bill.
- Improvement in rural living standards :
Average employment in the agriculture sector has increased due to the increase in farm production through the Jalsanchaya Yojana. Not only that, but the employment rate has also increased compared to previous years. This has improved the standard of living of farmers and farm labourers. Men and women have saved their time as they no longer have to go to the water line or far away from the village for water. Hence they have been able to focus on their children’s health and education.
