Impact assessment of indigenous field-level water storage structure (diggi) on agriculture in the great Indian desert

In the arid region of Rajasthan, India, it is very often a challenge to store rain/surface water for year-round use by human and livestock. The inhabitants this desert area have developed several storage structures, which they used construct based on their indigenous knowledge local terrain conditions. Recently, farmers living in lower command areas Indira Gandhi canal constructed micro-farm called diggi, cropland. They allocated diggi timely utilize as per irrigation requirements, thus, done away with problems deficit untimely supply. This impact assessment study, carried out Poogal tehsil Bikaner district, analyzed high-resolution satellite images 2 years geographic information system quantify structures studied diggi-growth interactions changing rainfall pattern well land use/land cover. Results showed that during 2018, about 3243 number were compared 241 existed 2004–2005. mean annual increased 30% crop 12,772 ha same period included 7.86% increase irrigated 2.98% rainfed croplands. Thus, diggi-based management has been immensely helpful perspective agriculture region.