Introduction
In the Sundarbans region, water scarcity poses a significant challenge to farming and daily life. Farmers in Jeliakhali have adopted an innovative strategy—converting portions of their farmland into ponds to capture and store rainwater. This sustainable approach aims to enhance water availability for irrigation and reduce reliance on drinking water during dry months, offering a promising model for communities facing similar environmental adversities.
Facing Frequent Water Shortages in Jeliakhali
In May 2024, farmers in Jeliakhali undertook the bold step of digging ponds on their fields to store rainwater. This initiative emerged after years of observing the seasonal monsoon rains that quickly disappeared, leaving little moisture for agriculture. These ponds now serve as reservoirs to irrigate crops during dry spells and help conserve drinking water supplies.
Water Is Vital for Life in the Sundarbans
The situation in Jeliakhali underscores broader water challenges in the Indian Sundarbans. Water availability directly influences crop survival beyond the rainy season, the duration of farming activities each year, and the sufficiency of drinking water for households during summer months.
Rising salinity, fluctuating sea levels, and shrinking freshwater sources exacerbate these challenges. The local population largely depends on fishing and farming, both of which rely heavily on fresh water after the monsoon rains.
Location and Challenges in Jeliakhali
Jeliakhali, situated in Sandeshkhali Block-II approximately 72 kilometres from Kolkata, is bordered by four saltwater rivers—Betnai, Dasha, Kalagachi, and Raimangal. The saline nature of these rivers renders the water unsuitable for irrigation.
Farmers have relied on submersible pumps to access groundwater, which has lowered the water table over time. Consequently, securing safe drinking water during summer has become increasingly difficult.
Village Land and Water Use
The village spans 576.7 hectares, with 488.7 hectares dedicated to farming. Unfortunately, about 463.9 hectares are unirrigated, and only 24.8 hectares receive water from alternative sources. According to 2009 data, Jeliakhali has 5,084 residents living in 1,254 households. Conditions here mirror those of nearly 1,100 other villages across the Sundarbans.
How the Idea of Rainwater Storage Started
Weekly Farmer Meetings Support Change
Change began through dialogue rather than technology. The Gram Samriddhi Foundation (GSF), based in Kolkata, holds weekly meetings with local farmers to discuss income improvement, farming methods, and cost reduction. Over time, focus shifted toward rainwater harvesting.
Farmers noted that heavy rains washed fertile soil from slopes into canals, depleting nutrients. They learned that creating ponds along slopes helps retain soil and provides earth that can be redistributed on their fields. Additionally, stored rainwater supports vegetable cultivation and reduces pressure on groundwater sources.
Farmers Dig Ponds on Their Land
These discussions transformed perceptions of ponds from lost farmland to vital assets for soil and water conservation. Assisted by GSF, farmers began digging ponds with the goal of using stored rainwater for dry-season irrigation and alleviating stress on drinking water supplies.
From May 2024 to June 2025, approximately 1,950 small farmers participated, creating 319 ponds. Each pond holds about 4,000 cubic feet (approximately 113,280 litres) of water during the monsoon. Collectively, the village now stores roughly 136,790,852 litres of rainwater annually.
Deciding to Give Up Land
Sacrificing farmland for ponds was a difficult choice given the region’s rain-dependent agriculture and water scarcity. Many farmers possessed ponds that had been left uncared for due to financial constraints or underestimated their value for water storage.
Training and engagement changed these attitudes. Farmers cleaned existing ponds and allocated field areas for new ones, supported by GSF’s provision of fruit tree saplings to plant on excavated soil. This demonstrated multiple pond benefits, including water storage, fish farming, vegetable cultivation, soil protection, and income generation from fruit trees around pond edges.
The first phase saw 103 ponds dug, followed by 216 more the next year.
Pond Details and Costs
Standard ponds measure approximately 20 by 20 feet and 10 feet deep, with larger sizes up to 30 or 40 feet possible when farmers offer additional land. Farmers maintain sufficient farmland for crop cultivation.
Pond excavation employs JCB machines, often completing the work within a few hours. Each pond costs about Rs. 6,000, with GSF contributing Rs. 5,000 and farmers providing Rs. 1,000.
All ponds also serve for fish farming, with farmers selecting fish species and stocking levels.
Improving Drinking Water Access
The main goal of digging ponds is to improve drinking water storage. Earlier, our tube wells dried in summer. We had to get water from deep tube wells that had arsenic, which made us sick. — Biplab Mondal, progressive farmer and GSF member
As ponds began to hold water, their impact extended to everyday water use. Previously, villagers relied on pumps even for bathing, heavily drawing on groundwater supplies. Now, pond water sufficiently meets daily needs, significantly reducing the use of groundwater for these purposes.
Groundwater levels that fell to approximately 65 feet in summer 2023-24 rose to about 55 feet in 2024-25, indicating that rainwater storage efforts contribute to stabilizing water tables.
Farmers maintain their ponds independently, contacting a village development worker appointed by GSF for support with issues such as dredging, fish farming, or soil management.
Women’s Role in Water Management
Women play a crucial role in managing water resources. Often attending village meetings during mornings or evenings, they relay information to their families. These discussions guide family decisions regarding water use and farming practices.
Changes in Farming and Income Due to Water
Improved water availability has influenced soil management and crop diversification.
Starting early 2023, GSF encouraged organic compost use over chemical fertilizers. Farmers learned to prepare compost from cow dung, amrit jal (a natural microbial solution), traditional organic mixtures, kitchen waste, dry leaves, and twigs.
Farmers began small composting trials on local plots and kitchen gardens. Positive results led to wider adoption, shared during meetings and home visits.
Vegetables, fruit trees, and other plants have been established around ponds, including coconut, betel nut, mango, guava, lemon, and G9 banana—thriving even in saline areas. This diversification provides additional income during typically lean monsoon months.
Archana Agarwal from GSF said, “We promote fruit trees because paddy farming requires labor every season. Fruit trees take effort once but give returns every year.” Gopal Mondal, a 35-year-old farmer, added, “We eat fish from the pond and earn from fish farming. We save money because we grow vegetables and fruits near the pond.”
Expanding the Program
Currently, Gram Samriddhi Foundation operates in four blocks of Sandeshkhali and aims to extend its efforts to 15 blocks within the next three years, with an emphasis on long-term support.
Challenges Remain
Despite water management improvements, Jeliakhali still lacks advanced educational and healthcare facilities, which continue to be areas of concern.
What Has Changed
The way water is retained on land has transformed, enabling crops to receive sustenance beyond the monsoon season and alleviating pressure on drinking water resources. This shift is gradually reshaping daily life in an area previously characterized by transient water availability.
