Abstract
The Bhungroo water harvesting system is an agricultural innovation that has received a monetary award and support from Securing Water for Food. The Bhungroo system helps smallholder farmers harvest rainwater throughout the monsoon season so they can use it during the dry season. The Bhungroo system was developed by Naireeta Services in the state of Gujarat, India, to tackle the issues of salinization, desertification, and water scarcity in the region. This report details monitoring and evaluation of the recent installation of 52 Bhungroo systems among the poorest smallholder farmers of Harij in Gujarat?s Patan district. From 62 interviews with Bhungroo owners in a stratified all-female sample, evaluators established a baseline using statistics on household incomes, crop yields, water practices, expenses, and perceptions and expectations of the Bhungroo system. Though findings are preliminary, the women studied in this report appear to have fewer resources and to be more heavily impacted by regional water stress than a small nearby sample of women with established Bhungroos. Aside from yield and income changes experienced as a result of using the Bhungroo system, the report suggests other important themes for further monitoring, including issues related to water sharing, irrigation practices and tools, and the climate and precipitation of the region. Water stress in the area appeared to be at an all-time high at the time of this study, while land degradation was unmistakably prominent. The systems? owners expressed hope for the Bhungroo system, which presents a viable possibility for positive impact directly on their households and more broadly on soil restoration, food security, and female empowerment for the entire region.