Beyond the Land: How Landscape Restoration is Transforming Lives in Sidhi
Sudarshan Singh’s gaze swept across the familiar rugged landscape as we set up our camera. Initially nervous to speak, his shoulders gradually relaxed, and a broad smile spread across his face. Looking at his flourishing fields on the other side of the earthen dam, he seemed reassured.
This earthen dam is one of several watershed structures built to augment water resources in the district and restore its forests and agricultural lands under the Sidhi landscape restoration program. The program is supported by WRI India, the Sidhi District Administration and local partner, Action for Social Advancement.
“Earlier the force of water during heavy rainfalls would wreck the fields, seeds, bunds and crops. Farmers used to face losses as they primarily depended on farming and would leave for cities to work as day laborers. Building this earthen dam here has helped us manage rainwater better. Now, farmers won’t have to leave their homes as they can easily grow crops year-round,” he explains, his voice filled with hope. This profound connection between the farmer and his farmland is visible in the shift in Singh’s confidence. We briefly forgot about the video recording and felt overwhelmed by the realization that the revitalization of Sidhi's landscape has been inextricably linked to the revitalization of its people's aspirations.
The impact of the landscape restoration initiatives in Sidhi can be seen in the lives of its residents. Much like their environment, they are resilient, resourceful and deeply connected to the land. More than 50% of Sidhi’s population is below the poverty line and depends on forests and agriculture for sustenance. Their lives – intricately linked to the seasons – rely on traditional knowledge and practices of farming and foraging. This remote, rural district nestled in eastern Madhya Pradesh, is covered with rolling hills, dense forests, and meandering rivers, that are vital to the local way of life. The landscape is a mosaic of forests, agricultural fields and small villages. Primarily composed of teak or saagwan and sal trees, the forests provide a crucial source of livelihood for the local population. Agricultural fields, which have been mostly carved out of the forest, are predominantly small and marginal holdings. Fertile soil and a favorable climate allow for cultivation of rice, wheat and pulses, which form the local diet.
However, life in Sidhi is not without its challenges. It is a remote and climate-vulnerable district, with limited access to basic amenities like healthcare, education and clean water. Climate change impacts, such as droughts and erratic rainfall, threaten the livelihoods and food security of its people. The degradation of forests and agricultural land has further exacerbated these issues, making it difficult for the community to thrive.
The land restoration initiative, in Sidhi, uses watershed management as an entry point. It includes diverse interventions related to tree-based restoration (such as agroforestry), sustainable agriculture, and value chain development for six identified tree species – aonla, bamboo, jackfruit, mahua, moringa, and palash. These efforts have the potential to generate 3.75 million wage earnings and employment for more than 30,000 people by enabling about 3,000 micro-enterprises.
Shakuntala Singh, a farmer from Dandi village and a member of a farmer producer organization, smiles as she shares how life in the district has changed due to year-round irrigation, “Earlier, when there was no rainfall, we could only manage kharif (monsoon) season farming. Now we can irrigate our fields round the year as there is water available in the doha.” The doha, a sunken pond along the stream, is used as a water source to irrigate the fields, particularly in the rabi season, along with fulfilling daily water requirements.
“With better yield, we are able to send our children to schools, provide fodder for our cattle, use crops for personal consumption, and sell some for festivities like weddings and other celebrations in the village,” she adds. Her story, one of many, attests to the positive change sweeping through the district.
As we walk deeper into Sidhi’s villages, this change became more palpable. Beyond the water harvesting structures and bountiful crops, we witness a tangible resilience, a new-found sense of self-sufficiency and strengthened community bonds.
A cheerful and spirited member of a self-help group (SHG) in Hadbado village, Amrita Panka represents this spirit of community empowerment. A member of the SHG for six years, she learnt to sew, saved money and set up Poshan Vatikas – home gardens for nutritional security. Amrita now helps other villagers, particularly women, set up their own Poshan Vatikas and provides them with new varieties of seeds.
Amrita enthusiastically took us around the village, introducing us to several women now practicing the Poshan Vatika (nutri-gardens) method. The setting sun cast a golden glow over the lush green fields in the slight chill of the evening air, as a lady quietly tended to her vegetable patch in the Poshan Vatika. She gently sprinkled water on the newly sprouted leaves of the radish plants, then walked over to us, proudly announcing that she grows seven different kinds of vegetables — one for each day of the week!
The success of landscape restoration in Sidhi is a testament to the power of community-led initiatives and the importance of working in harmony with nature. As the district continues its restoration journey, it serves as a model for other regions facing similar challenges. The story of Sidhi is a reminder that with collective effort and a deep respect for the land, it is possible to create a sustainable and prosperous future for all.
In Sidhi, the villagers' sentiments towards their land and forests are intertwined with hope, pride and a renewed sense of purpose. The journey of restoring their landscape has not only revitalized the environment but also rekindled the connection of Sidhi’s people to the land that sustains them.
