* Catchments are typically 2 to 3 times the size of cultivated areas in (semi-) arid regions.
{{procontable | pro=
- Can assist recharge of shallow wells <br>
- Can reduce salinity in groundwater <br>
- Reduces soil erosion <br>
- Smaller scale encourages ownership, which means a higher rate of success <br>
- Higher crop returns in dryer years allow farmers to diversify income sources in normal years <br>
- The technology is simple to implement at the local level <br>
- Stone bunds (as opposed to other materials) do not readily wash away, so it is not vulnerable to unusual and variable intensity rainfall events. <br>
| con= - High cost and effort involved in some earthworks, so poor or vulnerable families (e.g. single headed households) may struggle. A possible remedy: reduce donor dependency... use grain from harvests to pay off a loan that was used for the earthworks. Artificial glaciers in India were costing around $6,000 but it depends on the site. <br>
- Breached bunds will require repair work <br>
- Difficult to convince farmers of the gain to be had from using the techniques <br>
- Sedimentation within bunded areas means that bunds have to be regularly heightened <br>
- Popularity of the stone type of bund can result in shortages of stones, resulting in a higher cost for latecomers.
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