Community initiatives in building and managing temporary check-dams across seasonal streams for water harvesting in South India

Abstract

Traditional water harvesting system We analyze traditional community initiatives in building and managing temporary checkdams across seasonal streams in Kumbadaje panchayat in the state of Kerala in India. This is a fairly successful system, functioning for decades in the study area. Check-dams overcome water scarcity faced by farmers during the summer irrigation season and thereby play a crucial role in farming. We identify issues in the management of check-dams, noting how this traditional water harvesting and conservation system suits the local geographic conditions and needs to be sustained and promoted.