Nursed in the shade of hillocks and sparsely watered fallow lands, lies the quaint village of Pokamakalapalli in Bagepalli Taluk, Karnataka.

The scarcity of drinking water has caused a crisis for the farm animals and also severely affecting the village economy. Rain is the primary source of water for the village, followed by groundwater whose levels have depleted alarmingly over the past few years. The forest cover around the village has also shrunk considerably. Insufficient rains have led to soil erosion resulting in poor crop produce.
Disconnected from the urban belts, primitive modes of agriculture and cattle rearing make up the livelihood of the villagers. The village is surrounded by around 4 hundred acres of common land dedicated to cattle grazing and maintaining abundant forest cover. Though lack of awareness had once caused deforestation and illegal encroachment in these lands, since the last 5 years the villagers have firmly resolved to turn to greener ways of development which are not enough to restore the former glory. They are still at the mercy of nature for farming, livestock rearing and creating a better village.

The Water Crisis For The Animals

At present, there are two small watering holes lying side by side that quench the thirst of cattle like cows, buffaloes, goats and sheep. With their scanty resources and limited scientific know-how, the villagers dug these holes as an emergency measure to protect around 500 starving and thirsty animals. But the water bodies are being used by over 1500 animals daily, including cattle from neighbouring villages and wild animals from the surrounding forests. Moreover, as Nagendra, a cow-keeper, shares, “The ponds have water only for 7 months in a year. They dry up completely in summer months when water is needed the most.”

During dry seasons, the villagers share their own stored drinking water with the animals who then go out for grazing. By noon the animals are already thirsty and there is no water for them. Day after day, the animals are suffering in silence. Their health is deteriorating, diseases are increasing due to poor immunity. The milk production of the cows have worsened and villagers are losing a lot of money due to poorer quality of the dairy products. Even then they are spending their hard-earned money on medicines and treatment of the animals. They are looking at you for help.

Water Tank – The Solution

To solve the problem, the villagers wish to build a Kalyani or community water tank with a higher water holding capacity, by connecting the two existing waterholes.

“If the pond is made bigger, more animals will get drinking water all year round,” Nagendra wishes with hope beaming in his eyes.

The water tank will be lined with pitching stones to prevent leakage and increase the water retention. It will also enhance the groundwater levels and support agriculture by more water in the borewells and handpumps.

The 58 inhabitant families of Pokamakalapalli have themselves taken up the baton of development in the village. From bettering irrigation facilities to creating self-help groups for smoother execution of their initiatives, the villagers have tried their utmost best to improve the village conditions – all with their own limited financial resources. Today, they depend on you to turn Pokamakalapalli into the self-sufficient land they have always dreamt of.

Adverse Effects Of Depleting Forest Cover

Till now the villagers have done their part in increasing the forest cover by planting over 5 thousand saplings. But a shortage of funds is not allowing them to carry on the work on a broader scale. Lakshmi Narayana, a hopeful farmer in his 30s, shared the problem with us. Untilled pockets of common land are turning barren. Needless to repeat, thinning of forest cover transcribes to less water retention in the soil, leading to soil erosion. The farm animals do not get enough fodder in the pastures. Another menace that has started recently is sudden attacks by wild beasts on the villages since they are also losing their habitat to survive.

The Solution

So Pokamakalapalli is appealing to everyone today to financially support their plan of a larger green belt. This way the common land will provide fodder for the cows and goats. Apart from improving the moisture retention in the soil, the wild grass will feed the cows, sheep and goats. Not only this, the farmers can also procure fresh organic manure from the forest bed, and do away with harmful chemical fertilizers. You ask how? It’s simple. The dry leaves on the forest bed will decompose into compost with more rains, which the farmers can easily use. Else, if they can grow fruit trees in these marshy lands, the landless farmers will perhaps be able to afford a little more food on their plate.

You are probably wondering how intricately nature, animals and humans are connected in the Pokamakalapalli ecosystem. Then imagine how even a little of your contribution will trickle down nourishing all the layers of their sustainable demands.