Kutch’s pastoral communities tap age‑old water wisdom amid severe drought

When travel writer Fauzia Shaikh arrived in Kutch between September 3 and 7, she expected the Banni grasslands to be lush after the monsoon. Instead, the landscape remained barren, with seasonal ponds dry and grass barely visible. By early September, the region had received only about 30% of its normal rainfall, and a deficit of roughly 70% was recorded by mid‑month, with just 149.7 mm of rain against a typical 499.8 mm. The shortfall hit agriculture first, shrinking cultivated area from 6.5 lakh hectares the previous year to 4.82 lakh hectares this year, and reducing irrigated land to 1.8 lakh hectares. For the Maldhari, whose livelihoods depend on grass‑fed livestock, the drought forced a shift to purchased fodder, driving prices from Rs 6 to Rs 12 per kilogram and cutting milk output. Traditional water sources—shallow wells known as virdas and seasonal dhands—are being revived, though many now yield saline water. Ecologist Chetan Misher notes that while virdas have historically provided “fresh enough” water, they cannot meet modern drinking standards. The community’s resilience rests on blending age‑old knowledge with reliable infrastructure to secure safe water for people and cattle alike. Why it matters: preserving traditional water practices can buffer climate shocks for vulnerable livelihoods.

Editor's note: Excellent synthesis of a complex report. The article captures the environmental and economic data points provided in the source summary.

This article is AI-generated and fact-gated. Original reporting: The Better India