Description

Pratapgarh is situated in the southeastern part of Rajasthan in Chittorgarh district. The area adjoins Udaipur and Bhilwara districts of Rajasthan and Mandsaur district of Madhya Pradesh. It is situated in the junction of the Aravali mountain ranges and the Malwa Plateau; hence the characteristics of both prominently feature in the area.

The main river systems of the area are the Jakham and Aeraw that flow to the west and into the Mahi, and the Retam and Siwna that flow east into the Chambal River. The topography of the area is highly undulating; agriculture is practiced both in the valleys and on the tableland on the hilltop. Common lands account for 40% of the total geographical area; nearly 30% of the common lands fall in the forestland category. Revenue wastelands and pasturelands are more degraded than the forestlands and a portion of these has been encroached upon by the local communities for agriculture and for fodder. The forests too are degraded, especially in the area that is not inhabited by the tribal communities.    

The area is a Schedule V area predominantly inhabited by the tribal community, amongst the tribal communities the Meena are the most numerous comprising over 55% of the populace. Average landholdings are small and irrigation facilities virtually non-existent; agriculture is mostly rainfed and subsistence in nature. The per capita income is a measly Rs. 5805/- and the region ranks low on most of the development indicators.

The landholding patterns vary between the tribal and non-tribal communities with the average landholding among the former being 1-1.5 hectare and it being between 2 - 2.5 amongst the latter. Besides farming the tribal communities depend upon the forests for their food, fodder and fuelwood requirements. They also migrate each season to nearby towns and villages and find work as farm labourers and construction workers.

We began working in the region in October 2005; three macro-watersheds that fall in the catchment area of the Aeraw and the Siwna have been identified as areas where we would in the coming years work together with the local communities on strengthening collective action for improved conservation and use of their natural surroundings, and on improving their farm productivity and incomes.