Socioeconomic and Policy Research on Watershed Management in India Synthesis of Past Experiences and Needs for Future Research:Global Theme on Agroecosystems Report no. 7

Joshi, P K and Pangare, V and Shiferaw, B and Wani, S P and Bouma, J and Scott, C (2004) Socioeconomic and Policy Research on Watershed Management in India Synthesis of Past Experiences and Needs for Future Research:Global Theme on Agroecosystems Report no. 7. Monograph. International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics , Patancheru, Andhra Pradesh, India.

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Many people have contributed to the success of this study. The leadership of the six selected case studies kindly provided the required information used to assess diverse experiences from the different watershed management approaches spotted in the different ecoregions. We are grateful to the management of RGWM, AGY, MYRADA, Sukhomajri watershed, Fakot watershed and Adarsha (Kothapally) watershed and to the farmers and Watershed Committees in all the watershed locations who contributed valuable information through focus-group discussions. We also thank Mr PN Jayakumar for his valuable assistance in organizing the document. We are indebted to Ms Sheila Vijayakumar for editing the manuscript and Mr KNV Satyanarayana for incorporating the editorial corrections and page-setting the manuscript.

Abstract

Much of the progress in the past in terms of improving the productivity of agriculture and reducing poverty has occurred in areas with favorable biophysical and socioeconomic conditions. As in many developing countries, more than two-thirds of the agricultural land and the rural population in India are found in rainfed areas, which have been largely bypassed by the past process of agricultural transformation. As opportunities for further productivity growth in more favored areas are being exhausted, there is an urgent need to invest in rainfed areas where widespread rural poverty, water scarcity and degradation of the resource base are still critical development constraints. Several technical interventions for resource conservation in the past that neglected the economic and policy dimensions have failed. In the past few years, a new watershed and community-based approach that maintains people’s livelihoods at the heart of the debate on natural resource management has evolved. India is one of the countries that have adopted this integrated watershed management approach as a vehicle for sustainable agricultural transformation and livelihood security in the rainfed areas. India has also gained significant experience in the implementation of this approach. With the objective of synthesizing this knowledge and identifying the needs for future research, this study was jointly undertaken by ICRISAT and IWMI, initially focusing on socioeconomic and policy aspects. The study provides a broad overview of the national policy and institutional frameworks for watershed development, followed by a detailed assessment of various institutional arrangements and watershed management experiences using selected case studies. The major lessons and key determinants of successful watershed interventions are identified from the case studies. The study concludes by highlighting the knowledge gaps and areas for future socioeconomic and policy research to enhance the impacts of watershed programs.

Item Type: Monograph (Monograph)
Divisions: UNSPECIFIED
CRP: UNSPECIFIED
Subjects: Others > Watershed Management
Depositing User: Mr Sanat Kumar Behera
Date Deposited: 07 Nov 2011 08:51
Last Modified: 07 Nov 2011 08:51
URI: http://oar.icrisat.org/id/eprint/3781
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