Farm Ponds Offer Lifeline to Telangana Farmer

Hyderabad: Farm ponds are proving to be a vital source of protective irrigation for Telangana farmers during the ongoing Kharif season, which has been hit by deficient rainfall and delayed sowing. The ponds store rainwater and enable farmers to provide one or two critical irrigations during dry spells.

As of mid‑August, the state’s rainfall deficit widened again after a strong July, with mandal‑level data showing drought‑like conditions persisting across large parts of Telangana. Twelve districts have been facing the highest deficit. The state received 41 cm of rainfall against the normal 44.5 cm till mid‑August, leaving an overall deficit of about 8 per cent. Officials forecast a high probability of El Nino conditions from August onwards, with INCOIS putting the likelihood at 98 per cent for the period up to March next year.

The Agriculture department’s Kharif contingency plan has suggested farm ponds, recharge pits, short‑duration crops, drought‑tolerant varieties and micro‑irrigation to reduce the impact. Farm ponds are being funded through the convergence of Central and state schemes, mainly under the rural employment guarantee programme. Excavation is taken up as labour‑intensive work, with the Centre providing the major share of funds and the state and local bodies supervising technical approval and execution. Assistance is also available under the watershed component of the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana and the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture.

R. Ramadevi, MPDO and project officer of rural employment guarantee works in Bonakal mandal of Khammam district, said small and marginal farmers have shown strong interest. A 15m x 15m pond costs Rs.1,78,384, with Rs.1,25,136 as labour and Rs.53,248 for materials, including stone revetment. It provides 406 person‑days, with 40 labourers working for 10 days.

Marginal farmers with less than five acres, who often lack dependable irrigation and cannot afford borewells or diesel pumps, have been benefiting. Even small ponds help protect vegetables, pulses, fodder and horticulture crops. The scheme gives preference to SC, ST, women and small and marginal farmers.

Under VB-G RAM G and Telangana Jalasiri, 4,348 sites had been identified out of a target of 13,046 ponds by July 30, engaging nearly 9,930 wage seekers. Against the broader state target of 50,000 ponds, 3,173 works had been grounded, providing employment to 12,619 wage seekers.

Adilabad identified all 180 ponds allotted to it, while Medak achieved 90 per cent progress and Mahabubnagar 85 per cent. Mancherial and Narayanpet also recorded significant progress. Jayashankar Bhupalapally led in grounded works with 363 ponds, followed by Nirmal with 302. The PMKSY watershed programme reported the highest number of beneficiaries in Mancherial, Rajanna‑Sircilla, Nirmal and Jayashankar Bhupalapally.

Officials caution that farm ponds must be combined with field bunding, groundwater recharge and drip or sprinkler irrigation. Proper site selection and maintenance are essential to prevent siltation and ensure water lasts through the crop season. The ponds have also aided groundwater recharge and pisciculture, saving crops from deficit rainfall conditions.