Joint Forest Management

Success Stories :: Kutibundh Rakhal in Kutchh West Division - Bhuj

Introduction :

Major portion of forests of Kutchh is in the form of grasslands. The district enjoys dubious status of supporting largest cattle population and the profession of "Cattle Breeding", providing employment to large no. of people. The district experience severe draught or scarcity conditions every alternate or third year. All the grasslands including "Reserve Vidis",come under immense pressure of un-regulated grazing by large herds of cattle resulting in severe dagradation of these "Once upon a time" productive grasslands.

Mere glance at grass production figures over last 20 Years from 20 grass rakhals of the Division reveal an average production of less than 50 Kg. per Ha. per Year even in fair to better rain years. Realising this sorry state of affairs, an "Area Oriented Fuelwood and Fodder Project" is proposed for restoration. A representative vidi known as "Kutibandh Rakhal" was selected as Pilot Project and restoration works were started in 1999 from funds out of various on-going schemes.

The Area :

The Kutiband Rakhal, having an area of 1218.76 Ha. was in a very advanced stage of degradation. App. 600 Ha. of Rakhal was infested with heavy growth of prosopis and other unwanted growth. Average grass production was 25000 Kg. per year in good rain years and top production of 65000 Kg. In the year 1976-77 in last 30 years. The Rakhal is surrounded by five villages I.e. (1) Kodki, (2) Ratiya, (3) Makhana, (4) Baukha-Odheja and (5) Baukha Sama having an aggregate area of 8807.87 Ha. with 4359 human population and 8724 cattle population (as per 1991 census).

The Restoration :

[A] Participation:-

After selection of Kutibandh Rakhal as pilot project, a series of meetings of stakeholder villagers, first by local staff, by R.F.O. in second stage and senior levels in the 3rd stage were organised frequently and issues involved were discussed threadbare. Various "Entry Point Activities", .such as cleaning and deepening of village tank, construction of pacca West-wear & strengthening it, providing multipurpose Community HaD to villagers, etc.

were also instrumental in breaking-ice between Department and local people. Initial cord shoulder turned in to keen Interest and now whole hearted support & active participation of local people are the mainstay to the success of this project. Apart from active participation in project formulation, local support In the form of "Shram Daan" in prosopis removal, land preparation as well as effective protection of the area against heavy on slanght of uncontrolled grazing are specially noteworthy.

Detailed restoration programme was drawn out after series of meetings, site visits and long-long deliberations with staff and local people. Salient features of the same are as follows.

• Total protection from grazing at least for 3 years.
• Removal of prosopis juliflora & other unwanted growth from entire area of the rakhal.
• Comprehensive son & Moisture Conservation treatment.
• Grass improvement works In less refractory area.
• Improvement of highly refractory area by M.I.S.

111 phase of Project implementation was started with removal of Prosopis juliflora and other unwanted growth. Arrival of a loader machine for prosopis uprooting (provided rent free by G.M.D.C.as good will.) was a great morale booster.With the help of local people,600 Ha. area was cleaned of prosopis and SMC work were carried out in record time of app. 3 months.

After first good rains of year 2000, grass slips and seeds were sown intensively over an area of 550 Ha. and plantations under various models were carried out over 85 Ha. area.
The area, once again came under heavy pressure of grazing due to failure of 2000 monsoons. This pressure was withstood by staff with unflinching support of local people resulting in to good protection as well as good production in spite of Irregular scanty rains.

Full advantage of good rains of 2001 season was availed by carrying out re-seed sowing of grasses and other improvement works and restoration works were consolidated. Various activities carried out so far under the project are as follows:

The Kutibandh rakhal responded extremely well to the treatment given. In spite of scanty raging in 2000 season, it produced 75000 Kg. grass (against average 25000 Kg. of last 30 Years) which was given away to local people free of cost as Incentive.

2001 Monsoon was good and with consolidated grass development works, the grass crop is very promising and 2.0 lakh Kgs. grass production is expected this year from Kutibandh rakhal exhibiting 800% improvement in production just in 2-years.