Watershed development programme in Bihar RASHTRIYA KRISHI Volume 12 Issue 2 December, 2017 55-58

e ISSN–2321–7987 | Article |Visit us : www.researchjournal.co.in|

Watershed development programme in Bihar

Rakesh Kumar1, Vivek Dubey2 and Md. Saquib Alam2
1
College of Agricultural Engineering, Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University,
Pusa, Bihar (India)
2
Tirhut College of Agriculture, Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa,
Bihar (India)
(Email: [email protected])

Abstract
Effective use of land and water is fundamental to growth and sustainable development. The concept of watershed management
has evolved to ensure effective use of both natural and social capitals. Thus, the watershed development programmes include
land, water, and human resources as essential components. The watershed programme is primarily a land-based programme,
which is increasingly being focused on water, with its main objective being to enhance agricultural productivity through
increased in situ moisture conservation and protective irrigation for socio-economic development of rural people. It has been
essential in a country like India where the majority of the population depends on agriculture and about 60 per cent of the total
arable land (142 million ha) in the country is rain-fed. A large portion of the rain-fed areas (65% of arable land) in India is
characterized by low productivity, high risk, and uncertainty, low level of technological change and vulnerability to degradation
of natural resources. Over the years, the sustainable use of land and water has received wider attention among policy makers,
administrators, scientists, and researchers.

A watershed approach is a system-based approach mechanism in all areas including desert prone areas and
that facilitates the holistic development of agriculture, drought prone areas.
forestry and allied activities in the proposed watershed. It Development programmes, envisaged under its
also forms an appropriate unit for analyzing the purview include almost every activity which concerns land,
development-linked resource problems, designing the water, and biomass production. Experiences have shown
appropriate solutions of identified problems and eventually that watershed as a base is very effective in use and
testing the efficacy of the measures taken up. management of land and water resources. With increasing
Watershed Development Programmes (WDPs) have awareness about the problems related to the environment,
been accorded high priority use of watershed terminology is
in India’s development becoming popular and moreover
plans. These programmes in view of their potential for
have been initiated in India growth, improvement in income
to improve and sustain levels and augmenting the
productivity and the natural resource base of the
production potential of the disadvantaged regions of the
dry and semi-arid regions of country.
the country through the Objectives :
adoption of appropriate – To mitigate the adverse
production and conservation effects of drought on crops and
techniques. The WDP livestock.
approach seeks to improve and develop all types of lands- – To control desertification.
government, forest, community and private lands- that fall – To encourage restoration of ecological balance
within a particular watershed. It is a holistic approach to and
improve and develop the economic and natural resource – To promote economic development of village
base of dry and semi-arid regions. The programmes have community.
stressed upon the improvement of wasteland, runoff History of watershed development programme in
reduction, water conservation and protective irrigation India and Bihar : About 60 per cent of the total arable

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 RAKESH KUMAR, VIVEK DUBEY AND MD. SAQUIB ALAM

land (142 million ha) in India is rain-fed, characterized by – Desert Development Programme (DDP)
low productivity, low income, low employment with a high – Integrated Wasteland Development Project
incidence of poverty and a bulk of fragile and marginal (IWDP)
land. The rainfall pattern in these areas is highly variable – Employment Assurance Scheme (EAS)
both in terms of total amount and its distribution, which Success of watershed projects in Bihar :
lead to moisture stress during critical stages of crop – They devote significant resources to social issues.
production and makes agriculture production vulnerable – A high proportion of staff members has
to pre and post production risk. Watershed development experience and skills in social mobilization.
projects in the country have been sponsored and – Project leaders are fully committed to participation
implemented by Government of India from the early 1970s and, in most cases; donors or senior officials apply
onwards. Various watershed development programme like pressure to ensure participatory approaches.
Drought Prone Area Programme (DPAP), Desert – Project monitoring explicitly checks whether local
Development Programme (DDP), River Valley Project organizations of users have been formed.
(RVP), National Watershed Development Project for – Staff members have an incentive to undertake
Rainfed Areas (NWDPRA) and Integrated Wasteland participation.
Development Programme (IWDP) were launched – Communities, being organized, have the capacity
subsequently in various hydro-ecological regions, those to influence how the field staff works.
were consistently being affected by water stress and Components of watershed management :
drought like situations. Entry point activity (EPA) : Entry Point Activity is the
The entire watershed development programme was first formal project intervention which is undertaken after
primarily focused on the structural-driven compartmental the transect walk, selection of the watershed. It is highly
approach of soil conservation and rainwater harvesting recommended to use knowledge-based entry point activity
during the 1980s and before. In spite of putting efforts for to build the rapport with the community. Direct cash-based
maintaining soil conservation practices (example, contour EPA must be avoided as such activities give a wrong signal
bunding, pits excavations etc.), farmers used to plow out to the community at the beginning for various interventions.
these practices from their fields. It was felt that a Details of the knowledge-based EPA to build rapport with
straightjacket top-down approach cannot make the desired the community ensuring tangible economic benefits to the
impact in watersheds and mix up of individual and community members are described here.
community-based interventions are essential. Land and water conservation practices : Soil and
Definition of watershed : A watershed also called a water conservation practices are the primary steps of the
drainage basin or catchment area, is defined as an area in watershed management program. Conservation practices
which all water sowing into it goes to a common outlet. can be divided into two main categories: 1) in-situ and 2)
People and livestock are an integral part of the watershed ex-situ management. Land and water conservation
and their activities affect the productive status of practices, those made within agricultural fields like the
watersheds and vice versa. From the hydrological point construction of contour bunds, graded bunds, field bunds,
of view, the different phases of the hydrological cycle in a terraces building, broad bed and furrow practice and other
watershed are dependent on the various natural features soil moisture conservation practices, are known as in-
and human activities. Watershed is not simply the situ management. These practices protect land
hydrological unit but also socio- political-ecological entity degradation, improve soil health, and increase soil moisture
which plays crucial role in determining food, social, and availability and groundwater recharge. Moreover,
economic security and provides life support services to construction of check dam, farm pond, gully control
rural people. structures, pits excavation across the stream channel is
There are six major projects/programmes in known as ex-situ management. Ex-situ watershed
watershed development programme namely, management practices reduce peak discharge in order to
– National Watershed Development Project for reclaim gully formation and harvest the substantial amount
Rain-fed Areas (NWDPRA) of runoff, which increases groundwater recharge and
– Watershed Development in Shifting Cultivation irrigation potential in watersheds.
Areas (WDSCA) Watershed components for cropping system in
– Drought Prone Areas Programme (DPAP) Bihar:
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 WATERSHED DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME IN BIHAR

– Land development including in situ soil and farmers are important drivers for the observed impressive
moisture conservation measures like contour and graded impacts in the watershed. These lead to enhance
bunds fortified by plantation, bench terracing in hilly terrain; awareness of the farmers and their ability to consult with
and nurseries for fodder, timber, fuel wood, horticulture, the right people when problems arise. It requires
and non-timber - forest produce multidisciplinary proficiency in the field of engineering,
– Afforestation including block plantations, agronomy, forestry, horticulture, animal husbandry,
agroforestry, and horticultural development. Shelter-belt entomology, social science, economics, and marketing. It
plantations, sand dune stabilization, etc. is not always possible to get all the required support and
– Drainage line treatment with a combination of skills-set in one organization. Thus, consortium approach
vegetative and engineering structures. brings together the expertise of different areas to expand
– Development of small water harvesting structures the effectiveness of the various watershed initiatives and
such as low-cost farm ponds, nalla bunds, check dams interventions.
and percolation tanks and groundwater recharge Watershed development and its impact on
measures. livelihoods :
– Renovation and augmentation of water resources, So what has been the impact of these new initiatives
desiltation of tanks for drinking water and irrigation. on the livelihoods of the poor? Given their relatively recent
– Pasture development either by itself or in history, it is difficult to make a detailed assessment of the
conjunction with plantations. performance of WSD programme. Anecdotal evidence
– Repair, restoration, and upgrading of existing and impact assessments of individual projects (particularly
common property assets and structures in the watershed of donor and NGO-implemented projects) suggest several
to obtain optimum and sustained benefits from previous positive trends:
public investments. – Increase in cropping intensity and yields of both
– Crop demonstrations for popularising new crops irrigated and dryland crops.
and crop varieties or innovative crop management – Reduction in the threat of drought to crop and
practices. livestock production.
– Promotion and propagation of non-conventional – Increase in milk production (livestock systems
energy saving devices and energy conservation measures. move from open grazing and towards crossbreeds).
Watershed management approaches in Bihar: – Recharge of groundwater.
Integrated approach : This approach suggests the – Decline in sedimentation downstream.
integration of technologies within the natural boundaries – Improved fodder production.
of a drainage area for optimum development of land, water, – More livestock managed under stall-fed
and plant resources to meet the basic needs of people conditions.
and animals in a sustainable manner. This approach aims – Year-round availability of drinking water.
to improve the standard of living of common people by – Creation of employment opportunities for landless
increasing his earning capacity by offering all facilities labor.
required for optimum production. In order to achieve its – Diversification of the village economy into artisanal
objective, integrated watershed management suggests to and other activities as people gain the confidence to
adopt land and water conservation practices, water approach banks for credit Reduction in Runoff from 70%
harvesting in ponds and recharging of groundwater for to 22%, and in soil loss from 41t/ha to 1.9t/ha.
increasing water resources potential and stress on crop – Rise in water table from 12m to 6m depth;
diversification, use of improved variety of seeds, integrated increase in number of wells dug by villagers from 12 to
nutrient management, and integrated pest management 483.
practices, etc. – Increase in proportion of irrigated land from 9.6%
Consortium approach : Consortium approach to 69%.
emphasizes on collective action and community – Area sown under Kharif and Rabi increased by
participation including of primary stakeholders, government 85% and 233%.
and non-government organizations, and other institutions. – Cultivation in Zaid for first time extensive switch
Watershed management requires multidisciplinary skills to higher value crops.
and competencies. Easy access and timely advice to – Over 300 ha of arable wasteland brought into crop
57 HIND AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH AND TRAINING INSTITUTE
 RAKESH KUMAR, VIVEK DUBEY AND MD. SAQUIB ALAM

production. Common approach to watershed development :

– Seven-fold increase in fuelwood offtake. – Convergence of selected programme components/
– Switch from cow dung to firewood as fuel. activities with commonality in approach.
– Fodder planted on almost 150 ha of field bunds – Rationalization of unit cost norms depending on
and gully plugs. the nature of programme content, work items, and
– Dry fodder production increased by 235%. institutional arrangements.
– Switch from livestock species previously relying – Feasibility of territorial delineation to be decided
on open grazing. in terms of eligibility criteria, ministerial mandate,
– Towards higher quality stall-fed drought and milch programme focus and development objectives.
animals. – Scope for enlarging the process of capacity
– Former herders find employment as agricultural building involving local bodies, non-governmental
laborers. organizations (NGOs), community groups and extension
– Increased soil fertility. functionaries.
– Creation of village investment funds from the sale – Broad basing of financial resources through inter-
of produce. institutional credit linkages.
– Commons (fuel, fodder) and the creation of a – Unified approach supporting programme
revolving fund for small loans at nominal interest. measures and building a suitable institutional framework
Limitations of watershed programmes in Bihar : for ensuring long-term sustainability.
– Lack of people’s participation. References :
– Field staff unfamiliar with participatory
approaches. Watershed development in India: Learning through experience
– Insecurity about fund availability at the grass root http://www.indiawaterportal.org/a rticles/watershed-
level. development-india-learning-through-experience
– Limited time for preparatory activities. Integrated watershed development project
– Little emphasis on cohesive group formation. http://projects.worldbank.org/P041264/integrated-watershed-
– Lack of transparent criteria for selecting areas development-project?lang=en
and villages. Integrated Watershed Management Programme (IWMP)
– Limited human resource capabilities. http://rural.nic.in/sites/IWMP.asp
– Lack of involvement of senior government http://dolr.nic.in/iwmp_main.htm
functionaries and line agencies. http://agritech.tnau.ac.in/agriculture/agri_majorareas_
– Week horizontal linkages among various agencies watershed_watersheddevelop.html
at the district level. Jaiswal (1997). Panchayat Unnati, Newsletter, NIRD, Hyderabad
– No exist protocol for withdrawal after project http://202.41.76.161:8080/godhra/drda/schemes/watershed.html
completion. http://dacnet.nic.in/rfs/(wfnjya553wclwnrammz4zxve)/
– Plethora of watershed development programmes WSDGuidelines.pdf
with different guidelines and cost norms. Received : 14.06.2017 Revised : 10.10.2017 Accepted : 25.10.2017

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