Enhancing the resilience of vulnerable communities in Odisha through groundwater recharge and solar micro irrigation.

The Indian state of Odisha is highly vulnerable to climate change due to high monsoon variability. This has caused drought and flood affecting the food security of agriculture dependent communities and particularly affecting vulnerable communities. Extreme food insecurity is combined with water scarcity as there is a lack of infrastructure for water conservation.

These climate related challenges will be addressed by enhancing ground water recharge in the community ponds through structural adaptation measures, and the use of solar pumps for micro irrigation. The ground water recharge measures will improve water security and quality for around 5.2 million beneficiaries in vulnerable communities through the installation of groundwater recharge shafts in 10,000 tanks. Tanks and ponds in the region provide effective rainwater collection, but are inefficient at recharging groundwater due to low permeable soil. Ground water recharge shafts can be transformative by demonstrating their ability to recharge the underlying aquifier system, developing long-term groundwater reserves. At the same time, resilient crop planning through irrigation will improve food security in the region, whilst the use of solar pumps for irrigation will increase energy access and contribute to the state’s climate-resilient, low emission crop planning.

The project has an estimated lifespan of 20 years.