Case Studies - Watershed Development
Reviving dying springs: A paper documenting the Sikkim experience of groundwater recharge using geo-hydrology
With mountain communities dependent of springs for both domestic uses and for irrigation, conservation of these springs is crucial. However several factors, of which climate change is one, are leading to a drying up of springs. This paper reports on Sikkim's experience with using geo-hydrological knowledge to plan recharge structures. It concludes that this increases the efficiency of recharge measures.
Read MoreWater conservation, sustainable agriculture, challenges for rural development in Maharashtra and possible solutions - Talk by Popatrao Pawar, Sarpanch, Hivre-Bazar
The four video films below include a talk by Shri Popatrao Pawar, Sarpanch of Hivre-Bazar (Ahmednagar), Maharashtra and an inspiring promoter of the 'Ideal Villages Movement' on "Integrated Agriculture and Rural Development for Tomorrow's Maharashtra" on the occasion of the inauguration of Observer Research Foundation's Maharashtra@50 Study Centre on 24th June 2010.
Read MoreLivelihood augmentation in rainfed areas – A strategy handbook for practitioners by Development Support Centre
This strategy handbook for practitioners authored by Astad Pastakia and Sachin Oza and published by Development Support Centre deals with livelihood augmentation in rainfed areas. It is a compilation of ongoing, successful strategies piloted and upscaled by a range of development agencies in different parts of the country. The handbook is presented in four volumes under a common framework and focus on initiatives related to: participatory natural resource management; rural entrepreneurship development; use of information communication technology and institution development.
About 400 million rural poor reside in about 200 poorest districts of the country that constitute rainfed areas. Scientific research has revealed a vast untapped potential in rainfed agriculture where crop yields are lower than their potential by two to five fold. A large number of innovative projects and ideas have been tried to address this issue, although documentation has been uneven and fragmented. Drawing upon such experiences, the handbook points towards new vistas and untapped opportunities in meeting the challenge of enhancing food security with limited water resources and improving the carrying capacities of rainfed areas to match the rapidly increasing populations in these regions and elsewhere.
Read MorePresentations from the two-day workshop on success stories under watershed programmes by DoLR at New Delhi (2011)
A two-day workshop was held on “Success Stories Under Watershed Programmes ” from 2nd -3rd Feb 2011 by the Department of Land Resources (DoLR) at New Delhi. The workshop was structured in two sections. Research papers were presented from research institutes such as Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture (CRIDA), Central Soil & Water Conservation Research and Training Institute (CSWRTI), Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), National Research Centre for Agroforestry (NRCAF), National Institute for Rural Development (NIRD) and National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD). This was followed by presentation of success stories by various States.
Read MoreThe economic impact of forest hydrological services on local communities - A case study from the western ghats of India - A working paper by SANDEE
This working paper published by the South Asian Network for Development and Environmental Economics (SANDEE) describes the findings of a study that builds upon a larger research project at four sites in the Western Ghats of peninsular India and examines the link between stream flow, agricultural water use and economic returns to agriculture.
Read MoreGuidelines for integrated development of 60,000 pulses villages in rainfed areas - Document prepared by Department of Agriculture and Cooperation (2011)
This document is the operational plan for implementing the integrated development of 60,000 villages of pulses crops as announced in the 2011-12 Union budget. The budget allocates Rs 300 crores under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) for this scheme. This project will supplement the ongoing work on pulses development under the National Food Security Mission. There is also an emphasis on building institutions that would provide market linkage to the grower of pulses. The states of M.P, U.P, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Chattisgarh, Bihar, Maharashtra, Orissa, Rajasthan, and Tamilnadu were chosen for this programme. These states together constitute nearly 96% of area where pulses are grown.
A perspective of watershed development in the central Himalayan state of Uttarakhand – A paper by Himmotthan Pariyojana
This paper by Malavika Chauhan of Himmotthan Pariyojana in the International Journal of Ecology and Environmental Sciences discusses the evolution of watershed development projects and their implementation in the central Himalayan state of Uttarakhand. It traces the historical growth of thinking on watershed in the region, and highlights issues and influences. Impacts and benefits are discussed in relation to sustainability. The review shows that success in these projects is usually isolated, mostly seen in small micro-watersheds with naturally good water harvesting conditions.
Read MoreTraditional water management practices in coastal Karnataka - Paper presented at the National Seminar on Water and Culture (2007)
This paper highlights traditional water management practices that were practised in coastal Karnataka. It begins with a brief history of the region of Southern Kanada, its geography and the religious practices of the region. Some of the key features of this region includes an abundance of rivers though they mostly are rain-fed.
Read MoreWatershed development in India: Biophysical and societal impacts - Research paper from Environ Dev Sustain journal
The paper argues that watershed management has to be fluid to take into consideration new realities like change in flow conditions, external realities like unintended impacts and the need to maintain minimum downstream flows for environmental and other purposes.
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