Local responses to too much and too little water in the greater Himalayan region
also promoted resettlement in the Terai forests. Both tea and cardamom require less water than cereals
Domestic water use – People try to obtain water for or vegetable crops. Other families have shifted their
domestic use through both structural and non-structural crops to rice varieties that require less water or that can
means. In water deficit areas, about half the population be sown at a later date if the rains are delayed. Those
travels to sources at lower elevations when the supply unable to make such shifts abandon farming altogether,
from regular water sources declines. Communities may move to a different location, change occupations, or rely
devise local rules for collecting water. For example, in on different sources of income.
Danda Bazaar, the local rule stipulates that one person
can collect water in two containers for one family for Changes in the livestock system – Due to water
one day. The community enforces the rule and those shortages, farmers have problems keeping the same
violating the rule face social boycott. Some families take number and size of animals as before. About two-thirds
advantage of the rule by using containers that are almost of the population use less water to make khole (boiled
twice the size of regular ones. Men go to carry the liquid feed) for livestock. The decline in water availability
heavier containers of water for the two-hour round trip. is forcing about a third of the population in the study
Some families have installed electric pumps to lift water sites to reduce the number of their animals by two-thirds
from streams. – an economically and culturally difficult decision. An
even harder choice for farmers is to reduce the variety of
Rain water harvesting – Ponds were once a common animals. About a fifth of the farmers who had both cows
method of harvesting rainwater in the hills, but many and buffaloes have sold either all the cows or all the
have been lost to other land uses in recent decades. buffaloes to keep only one species of cows, buffaloes,
Villagers in Maunabudhuk have continued this traditional goats, or pigs. Some farmers sell milk and buy water to
method of harvesting rain by building multi-purpose maintain their dairy business with the hope that the next
ponds close to their homes to collect rain. Water year will be better.
remains in the ponds for 4 to 5 months to be used for
livestock and irrigating fruit trees. In Danda bazaar, Changes in sanitation practices – The majority of the
collecting rainwater is popular and the village has been respondents in the study area reported that due to
the site to pilot a fog water collecting system. Although reduced water availability, they have changed their
its performance is not very satisfactory, this system still sanitation behaviour by cleaning, showering, and
provides water for a small section of the population that washing less frequently.
cannot get water from the main system of the village.
Shift in periods for construction – In the past, people
Efficient irrigation systems – Since large irrigation constructed their homes during the winter, the dry
channels are expensive and necessitate external inputs agricultural off-season. Since construction requires water,
like technology, resources, and skills, some families most locals now build houses during the rainy season
use sprinklers and drip irrigation systems. Others have when water and labour are available.
started using pumps to lift water for irrigation from
streams. Introducing non-structural changes to make Occupational changes – When water shortages are
irrigation more efficient also requires investments in acute, people tend to make the hard choice to change
new skills and community support because, rather than
individualistic family responses, collective community
In the dry Jikhu Khola riverbed, wealthy farmers use heavy
decisions will be necessary. However, the study sites
machinery to dig trenches to get groundwater for irrigation.
have not yet employed such changes.
Change in crops – According to the respondents, water
shortages have caused about half the population in
the study areas to shift their production from cereals to
cardamom or from rice to maize. Some have adopted
cultivation of tea or cardamom because it fetches a
higher price than rice. Cardamom requires less water
and less labour input for a limited period. Tea requires a
regular supply of large numbers of labourers during the
picking season.
29
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