Small-holder farmers, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions of the nation, experience low water tables and limited annual exposure to monsoons. Happa (Small Tank) model is a relatively low-cost innovation that leverages integrated natural resource management principles for small and marginal farmers.
Our study highlights the potential of Happa as an investment based on the early evidence from the in-depth study of a small section of marginal farmers in the undulating region of Purulia, West Bengal. The successful farmers who have been using the Happa model have not only shifted from mono-cropping to multi-cropping but also from rain-fed cropping to multi-season cropping, contributing significantly both to food security and farm cash income. The critical success factor of Happa model is its integration as one of the sub-systems in the overall farming system. The study also highlights the various socio-economic benefits and the critical risks associated with the Happa Model.
