Changing rainfall erodes a landscape. Watershed interventions halt the downward spiral

Watershed interventions have led to 1-2.5 meters higher groundwater levels, providing lifesaving irrigation to the farmers. This was achieved in a challenging environment in two villages in the drylands of Andhra Pradesh, India, which were facing a change in rainfall for the last five years. The steady monsoon showers were turning into sporadic heavy spells resulting in flooding, followed by dry spells that ruined crops. More than half the land lay fallow, until watershed activities were taken up by a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) project.

Photo credit: Hamish John Appleby/IWMI