Ex-Situ Water Harvesting: Farm Ponds and Check Dams
Ex-situ rainwater harvesting captures excess overland surface runoff during intense monsoon storms and channels it into dedicated storage reservoirs.
Farm ponds (Khet Talab) are the primary on-farm storage units in rainfed zones, constructed with lined polyethylene sheets to prevent seepage losses in porous soils.
- Farm Ponds (Khet Talab): Earthen ponds lined with 300 to 500 micron HDPE geomembrane sheets storing 1,000 to 5,000 m3 of runoff
- Check Dams (Anicuts): Masonry or gabion barriers built across seasonal streams to slow floodwater and recharge upstream wells
- Percolation Tanks: Earthen impoundments designed in permeable geological zones to recharge surrounding groundwater aquifers
- Sub-Surface Dykes: Impervious underground barriers constructed in sandy riverbeds to trap subterranean water flow
In-Situ Water Harvesting and Soil Moisture Conservation
In-situ rainwater harvesting involves land shaping and tillage practices that capture rainfall directly where it falls, minimizing surface runoff and maximizing soil profile percolation.
These techniques prevent sheet erosion, extend the duration of root-zone moisture availability, and support rainfed crops through mid-season dry spells.
- Contour Bunding & Trenches: Earthen bunds and horizontal trenches dug along contour lines to catch and infiltrate runoff
- Broad Bed and Furrow (BBF): Raised wide beds separated by shallow drainage furrows, ideal for black cotton soils in soybean and cotton
- Ridge and Furrow System: Planting crops on elevated ridges while alternating furrows harvest rain and facilitate drainage
- Organic & Plastic Mulching: Straw or polyethylene mulch reducing surface evaporation and keeping root zones moist
Rooftop Harvesting and Government Subsidies
Rooftop rainwater harvesting captures precipitation from farm buildings, warehouses, polyhouses, and homestead roofs, channeling water through silt filters into recharge wells or storage tanks.
Under the 'Har Khet Ko Pani' and Watershed Development components of PMKSY, the Government of India provides capital subsidies of 50 to 75 percent for digging and lining farm ponds.
- Polyhouse catchment: Enormous rooftop catchments channeling runoff into dedicated micro-irrigation storage tanks
- Filter mechanisms: Sand-gravel-charcoal filters removing organic debris before water enters recharge borewells
- PMKSY Subsidies: Financial assistance for community and individual farm ponds through state agriculture departments
- Micro-irrigation pairing: Pairing farm ponds with solar-powered drip irrigation triples irrigation water efficiency
Official source
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Common questions
What is the difference between in-situ and ex-situ water harvesting?
In-situ water harvesting captures rainfall directly in the field where it falls through contour bunds and furrows, while ex-situ collects runoff into separate storage ponds or check dams.
Why must farm ponds in sandy or gravelly soils be lined?
Unlined ponds in permeable soils lose up to 80 percent of stored water through soil seepage; lining with HDPE plastic sheets ensures stored water lasts through the dry season.
What government scheme provides subsidies for digging farm ponds in India?
The Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) and state agricultural schemes provide capital subsidies of 50 to 75 percent for farm ponds.
General guidance, not personal advice. For your farm, ask your local Krishi Vigyan Kendra or agriculture officer.
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