The scene shifts back to Kothapalli village. Nearly 10 days have elapsed since the heated argument over the donation for conducting a festival to appease the rain gods. Two jeeps and a car come to a screeching halt in the village.

About a dozen men in Bermudas and sunglasses alight from the vehicles. There is some commotion when a small truck also arrives a little behind the convoy of vehicles. Some men get into the small truck and start handing down some big telescope-like instruments to their counterparts below.

By now a small crowd of onlookers has gathered around the convoy of vehicles.

A middle-aged man with dark sunglasses looked at the crowd and said, “We are scientists from Icrisat, Patancheru. We need to talk to your village headman. Is he here?”

When the word headman was mentioned, there was a minor jostling in the crowd and Subha Reddy pushed his way to the front.

“I am the headman of this village, what is it that we can do for you?” he asked

“Oh good. So you are the headman. We are a group of researchers from Icrisat.”

“Oh so you are also from a panchayat office!” exclaimed one of the curious onlookers

Will you give us loans? Or construct thatched huts? Will you build schools for us? These were the questions aimed at the middle-aged man.

“No, no, all that is the work of the government. We are here to help you realise the importance of water conservation.”

What water conservation? We are suffering without any water and you are talking about water conservation. You must be joking,” the crowd retorted.

Yes, we know that all you people are suffering from acute water shortage. But does any one of you know how to overcome this shortage?

“If we get good rains, then we have plenty of water and can raise our crops and get a good harvest, was the reply from Parvathamma.

“So, in a year you grow crops for nearly three months and for the rest nine months you have no means of income from your land,” the researchers asked.

“Well, do you know that there are systems called check-dams, recharging existing wells and rainwater ponds?”

“What?” the villagers stared blankly.

“Yes, that is why we have come here. It is a part of our project to help you dig small circular pits in several places in your village, dig trenches around your existing wells and construct check dams in the small river which is running near your village.”

“But all this requires lots of money? Does it not?” the villagers enquired.

“Yes. But you need not worry about it. We will ask the district collector and the government to help you. All we need is your labour.”

After two weeks, about half a dozen vehicles drove into the village.

About 40 persons from the government and collectors office came along with the team of scientists. They took several measurements and inspected the village in detail.

Transformation

In about six months about 13 check dams and 51 mini percolation tanks were constructed. The cost of most of the structures ranged from Rs 1,000 to Rs 3000 each. In a span of 4-5 years, the Farmers Participatory Integrated Watershed Management project, involving a consortium of institutions, looked at improved water, soil, nutrient and pest management technologies, bringing about dramatic transformation.

It yielded encouraging results in terms of improved greenery and groundwater levels, reduced run off and soil loss, and increased productivities, and consequently fetched better incomes and livelihoods for 270 cultivating families with an average landholding of 1.4 hectares.

The news spread slowly through the media and Kothapally started getting into the limelight. Several media persons and high-ranking diplomats and officials from across the globe keep visiting Kothapally.

Amidst the flicker of camera flashlights, Narayana Reddy smilingly replies to the volley of questions fired at him by the international media.

“How far has this project initiated by Icrisat helped your village?”

“The yield of our maize crop has increased from 1.5 tonnes a hectare in 1999 to nearly four tonnes by 2003. Thanks to availability of water, our village, which was predominantly into cotton cultivation, has moved to maize, pigeon pea and vegetables. The cost of an acre of land has gone up from Rs 5,000 to Rs 5 lakh now,” says Narayana Reddy, unable to hide his paan-stained smile.

Interrupting him, Dr Wani raised his voice and said that the best part of the programme was involvement of all communities and castes, not excluding the Backward Classes, the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes. The economy of these villagers has improved so much that now they don’t go for any labour work. Unlike before, when most of them had to go for manual labour in the fields. The Adarsha watershed project has increased agricultural productivity in a span of four years. Maize yield improved to 3,480 kg per hectare from 1,500 kg/ha. Sorghum yield improved to 2,425 kg/ha from 1,070 kg/ha in the same period.

Today, what was once a quiet and small village in a remote part of Andhra Pradesh, is buzzing with activity. And for those who visit the village, Parvathamma is only too glad to get them a glass of steaming chai.