Improved Livelihood System of Farm Households through Community Watersheds Learnings and Insights from Thailand and Vietnam: Global Theme on Agroecosystems Report no. 38

    Mula, R P and Wani, S P and Wangkahart, T and Thang, N V and Supama, Y (2007) Improved Livelihood System of Farm Households through Community Watersheds Learnings and Insights from Thailand and Vietnam: Global Theme on Agroecosystems Report no. 38. Monograph. International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics , Patancheru, Andhra Pradesh, India.

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    This article would not have been feasible without the scientific and moral support from a number of individuals: Dr William D Dar, Director General for his unrelenting encouragement; Drs Cynthia Bantilan of ICRISAT, Amita Shah of Gujarat Institute of Development Research (GIDR), Ahmedabad, India, and KV Raju of Institute for Social and Economic Change (ISEC), Bangalore, India, for the review and providing suggestions on the paper and Drs P Pathak and K L Sahrawat for some nuggets of advice. I sincerely thank Mr R Sudi for verifications of my data, Mr I Nageswara Rao and Mr KNV Satyanarayana for providing secretarial, administrative help and page setting of the script and Ms Shalini N for editorial assistance. I gratefully acknowledge our collaborators Drs Supatra Donsophon, Somak Idippong, Banyong Toomsan, Pranee Srihaban, Anuwat Potinam, Somjit Khantasuvan and to the respondents of Tad Fa and Wang Chai watersheds in Thailand and Drs Pham Quoc Gia, NT Chinh and to the respondents of Thanh Ha and Huoang Dao watersheds in Vietnam for providing necessary help during my field data collection.

    Abstract

    Identifying the socio economic contributions of the integrated watershed project on farm households in Thailand and Vietnam was the end goal of the one-month study conducted in January 2006. Data was obtained with the use of an interview schedule, field visits, focus group discussions, and key informants. Findings on the biophysical aspects of the watershed were used for investigating the contributions of various interventions on the agricultural and social system of farmers. Awareness and adoption of the different technological packages are high except on the installation of soil and water monitoring instrument. Less interest by farmers for soil and water monitoring instrument should be dealt by spreading awareness of their importance. Modifications in farmers’ agricultural systems included a change in cropping system such as addition of new crops (legumes and fruit trees), new varieties, adjustments in the cropping calendar and investments in aquaculture as well as poultry. Apparently, these have contributed to the improvement in income levels, enhancement of community participation, and fulfillment among household members. The trainings and exposures provided to farm households opened windows for self-help group formation and alliances/partnerships. A contributing factor to gains obtained in the watershed project has been due to the inculcation of the sense of ownership among farmers. And this explains the clamor for continuous capacity building in the form of technical assistance, various types of information, education and communication (IEC) materials, and market price information to ensure sustainability of the initial gains. The SCOT analysis and transects, which are validated from implementers’ perspective showed strong resemblance with farmer-respondents’ needs assessment. Alongside the development of other potential resources, there were expressions for relevant extension support, market and credit assistance, and more innovations in agri-related livelihoods like pasture-based livestock and agro forestry. On the social aspect, an understanding of problems and the ways in which affected farm households respond to them can be used as an enabling mechanism for watershed initiatives specifically in developing appropriate framework for evaluating, informing, and educating farm households.

    Item Type: Monograph (Monograph)
    Divisions: UNSPECIFIED
    CRP: UNSPECIFIED
    Subjects: Others > Watershed Management
    Others > Agriculture-Farming, Production, Technology, Economics
    Depositing User: Mr Sanat Kumar Behera
    Date Deposited: 11 Oct 2011 11:52
    Last Modified: 11 Oct 2011 11:52
    URI: http://oar.icrisat.org/id/eprint/2304
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