This Asia Initiatives’ program assisted by local partner, Dilasa Janvikas Pratishthan, focuses on Babra village in Maharashtra, India to ensure water conservation and security through the construction of farm ponds. The location of Babra village, Phulambari is such that drought affects the people with water scarcity adversely influencing natural resources and the environment. Farmers are unable to raise their water availability for irrigation even in good rainfall due to a paucity of reliable facilities for collecting rainwater. The lack of safe, reliable water availability means no gainful employment for a long period. The lack of irrigation also disparately affects the women in the village who have to bear the burden of fetching water themselves and carry it back to their families. Through the construction and maintenance of the farm pond water structure over 380 direct beneficiaries are able to cultivate Rabi and Kharif crops, receive an additional income from fisheries, and have dependable water sources for personal and agricultural use. Construction of water conservation structures provide financial stability through ensuring soil and water conservation, improving the water depth level in nearby water storage structures, and increasing crop yields.

The participants earn SoCCs through cleaning of water tanks, forming a community management group and attending monthly meetings, as well as assisting during the water conservation construction. SoCCs are redeemed for the construction of the farm pond structure.