Multiple Impact of Integrated Watershed Management in Low Rainfall Semi-Arid Region: A Case Study from Eastern Rajasthan, India
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Himanshu Pathak, anil Kumar Chourasia, Suhas Wani, Sudi Raghavendra Rao. (31/1/2013). Multiple Impact of Integrated Watershed Management in Low Rainfall Semi-Arid Region: A Case Study from Eastern Rajasthan, India. Journal of Water Resource and Protection, 5, pp. 27-36.
Abstract
The agriculture in low rainfall areas of eastern Rajasthan, India is characterized by high risks from drought, degraded
natural resources and pervasive poverty, food insecurity and malnutrition. In this region, water is the main limiting factor
for upgrading rainfed agriculture. For such areas integrated watershed management is recognized as a potential approach
for agriculture growth and rehabilitation of fragile and degraded lands. At Gokulpura-Goverdhanpura village in
Bundi eastern Rajasthan, India an integrated watershed project was implemented using the holistic systems approach.
This paper discusses the impacts of this watershed program on bio-physical, socio-economic, environmental and ecological
parameters. Results indicate that due to watershed interventions the groundwater availability has substantially
increased which brought changes in cropping patterns with high value crops. Significant increases in irrigated area,
cropping intensity along with diversification of crops from traditional to commercial cash crops were recorded. The
watershed program also significantly improved the socio-economic status of the watershed community. It has increased
the income and reduced poverty of the people in the watershed. The watershed interventions generated good employment
opportunities and significantly reduced the migration of both skilled and unskilled labor from the watershed village
to urban areas. It has also improved the environmental quality and ecological status in the watershed. The watershed
interventions increased the vegetative index or greenery, reduced runoff, soil loss, and land degradations and improved
the bio-diversity in fragile ecosystems. Overall, the integrated watershed program at Gokulpura-Goverdhanpura
provided resilience by ensuring continued and sustainable multiple outputs, besides soil and water conservation and
other positive environmental effects.