|
|
|
Net Planning
|
| Participatory Net Planning (PNP): |
|
Participatory Net Planning, which is site specific and farmer-friendly planning, is the approach followed by WOTR and its partners in the
IGWDP.
Under this approach, each gat number/survey number is visited by the planning team along with the concerned farmer and his wife (land owner) in order to survey the area and decide on the proposed soil and water conservation treatments and land use.
The twin objectives of PNP are to:
|
(i) |
Promote ownership and hence sustainability of the work by involving the farmer, his wife and his family in the decision making process. The views of the farmer and his family
regarding treatment and use of his land are elicited. They are then engaged in a dialogue wherein various issues and interventions pertaining to land husbandry and their livelihood are discussed, agreed upon and defined with respect to their land holding. |
|
(ii) |
Tailor plans to meet specific field situations: Site specific planning not only reduces the differences between planned treatments and treatments subsequently implemented, but also facilitate more realistic allocation of finance. |
|
|
Background:
The earlier method used for planning watershed activities was Gross Planning. This type of planning includes the following aspects: |
|
1) |
Topographic survey/contour mapping of (micro) watershed/
catchment:
This is a very time-consuming process wherein grids have to be laid out in the entire catchment/field. Reduced Levels (RLs) are then taken of these grid points. With the help of these Reduced Levels a contour map is prepared. After preparation of the contour map, it is superimposed on a Cadestral/village map. With the help of this, one can easily find out the slope of the particular field by the Interpolation Method. Basically, the topography (contour map) is used to find out the slope of the particular field, average slope of the watershed and to see the drainage pattern of the watershed.
|
|
2) |
After finding out the slope, we require other data like soil texture, soil depth and erosion status. For finding out the soil texture, representative soil samples are taken and these are analysed in the laboratory (mechanical analysis by sieving method). Soil depth is obtained using an Auger and the erosion status can be observed in the field itself.
|
|
3) |
There are 8 land classes; land which falls in the first four classes is cultivable land and the remaining four classes represent culturable/non-culturable waste land. Depending upon the above information the land class is decided. Once this is done, the most suitable land use for that land class is decided. Then the mechanical as well as biological/vegetative treatments to conserve soil and water are planned. |
|
|
In the entire process, the farmer was usually never consulted during the planning phase inspite of the fact that the land on which the work was to be carried out belonged to him. Because of this, problems cropped up during implementation - the farmers were not willing to accept the “very technical” solutions being planned for their fields like contour bunds, etc. This created the biggest hurdle in implementing the plans that had been drawn up. In order to get around this difficulty and ensure the farmers’ acceptance of the work, a new method of planning called Participatory Net Planning was developed by WOTR.
|
|
Advantages over Gross Planning:
|
|
(i)
|
It is participatory and socially oriented while maintaining technical standards.
|
|
(ii)
|
Local knowledge and practices are taken into consideration.
|
|
(iii)
|
Planning is site specific.
|
|
(iv)
|
Active participation of stakeholders during planning is ensured, thus making them feel ‘owners’ of the effort.
|
|
(v)
|
Easy for implementation as stakeholder/farmer is involved during planning.
|
|
(vi)
|
Gat number-wise/Survey number-wise budget estimate is made, thus reducing overall estimated budgets.
|
|
|
The PNP Process :
|
|
1.
|
The team that undertakes the PNP consists of a technical/experienced person in the field of watershed development and 2-3 members of the Village Watershed Committee (VWC) to guide/motivate the farmer.
|
|
2.
|
The farmer whose land is to be surveyed is present in his field along with his wife/family on the day of planning. In one day around 10-15 hectares of area can be surveyed by the team in this manner.
|
|
3.
|
During the planning process the team informally discusses with the farmer details regarding his land like the flow of rainwater, erosion in his field, types of crops he grows, etc. so that he is put at ease.
|
|
4.
|
The slope of the land is then measured, soil depth taken using an auger, soil texture and erosion status of the field observed. Depending on all these the land class is then decided. All these details are explained to the farmer.
|
|
5.
|
Once the land class is decided, the most suitable land use and treatments are suggested to the farmer.
It often happens that the farmer is completely unwilling to accept these suggestions. The team then tries to convince him by explaining the reasons why they are proposing these particular solutions. If the farmer is still not convinced then they should try to understand his point of view and reasons for objecting. If his problem is genuine, then other options should be checked out taking the farmer’s opinion and preference into consideration.
|
|
6.
|
While deciding on the treatments to be undertaken the team should help the farmer visualize how these treatments will help solve the existing problems on his land and the transformation that will take place in the land once these treatments are implemented and soil and water conserved. This visualization is more effective when the farmer is in the
field
itself.
If 2-3 VWC members are present they can be very helpful
in motivating the farmer.
|
|
7.
|
Once a consensus has been arrived at regarding the proposed
treatments and land use all the information is noted in the
net planning format. This
includes details of the present and proposed treatments and
land use, types of horticulture species, no. of trees, etc.
|
|
8.
|
At
the end of the exercise, the farmer is given a paper which
contains a diagram of his land on which the details (present
and proposed) are indicated together with an agreement which
formalises his consent and that of his wife’s to undertake
and maintain the proposed treatments.
|
|
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
