The components of zabo
• FOREST LAND: A catchment area of about 1.5 ha or more is kept under natural vegetation upstream of the ponds to serve as a water source during monsoons. The slope of the catchment area is usually very steep.
• WATER HARVESTING SYSTEM: Below the catchment area, water harvesting ponds are dug and an earthen embankment constructed. Silt retention tanks are constructed at several points to prevent silt from entering the ponds with the runoff. The entire water harvesting setup generally occupies about 0.2 ha. These silt retention tanks are cleaned annually. At the time of constructing the pond, considerable to efforts are made to compact the inner surface area so as to avoid water losses through seepage.
• CATTLESHED: It is a common practice to maintain a cattle yard fenced with ordinary branches or bamboo. The yard is managed by a group of farmers by stocking cattle an a rotation basis, preferably a little below the water harvesting pond. Washing of the cattle yard is done with runoff water, which then enters the paddy fields rich in manure. When there is an overflow of water from the pond, It finds its way through a diversion passing through the cattle yard and washes down the manure to the fields below. Split bamboo channels are used to carry dung and urine from the cattle yard to a central point from where it is spread all over the fields.
• AGRICULTURAL LAND: Terraced fields are located on an elevation lower than the water harvesting ponds. The area of the paddy fields varies between 0.2-0.5 ha. Use of green manure like Albizia lebbeck and mekhonu tree leaves, application of cowdung and diversion of runoff from open cattle yards are the usual methods adopted to fertilise the paddy. Farmers also use azolla for enhancing soil fertility wherever permanent impounding of water sources is available. Paddy fields are thoroughly rammed due to treading by both humans and cattle, and battering with sticks to create a hard pan to avoid percolation losses. Seepage losses through shoulder bunds are checked by using paddy husk on the upstream side. The main source of draught power for agricultural operations is the buffalo. The only paddy crop grown is the tanyekemugah. The seed rate is 60 kg per ha, and the transplanting takes place in June. The yield of paddy is about three-four tonne per ha. Most farmers practise paddy-cum-fish culture and derive about 50-60 kg of fish per ha as an additional output.