Economic feasibility of refinement or renovation of a water harvesting structure (Nadi)-Asuccess story

A study was conducted in Bhilwara district of Rajasthan during the year 2011–2013 to assess the economic feasibility of refinement renovation of a traditional water harvesting structure (nadi) under Rastriya Krishi Vikas Yojana project. Four traditional nadies ware selected in two panchayat samities of the Bhilwara district. Crop based experiments were conducted at selected nadies before and after renovation of existing. Fish demonstrations were conducted after renovation of nadies except Ratanpura village of Suwana panchayat samities. Results revealed that average number of irrigations in one ha increased from 1.8 to 3.86 after renovation of existing nadies and crop diversification index increased from 0.432 to 0.782 and 0.432 to 0.659 during kharif and rabi seasons, respkharifrabiectively. Increased water resources and improved technologies increased the productivity by 28 to 48.5% in both the seasons. On an average, 54, 499 a`nnum was obtained after one year of renovation of nadies with an average B: C ratio of 2.52 against total expenditure of 35, 859. Besides, about 251 to 403 man-days employment was generated as indirect benefit due to water resource development and implementation of improved crop production technologies. The average cost of water storage in the renovated nadies was found to be 6 m⁻³, whereas, a net return of 19 m⁻³ was realized by utilizing the stored water for irrig-3ation to crops and fish during the first year of study. Renovation of existing nadies increased ground water recharge by 15–41%.