Impacts of Watershed Development Programmes: Experiences and Evidences from Tamil Nadu

Kuppannan, Palanisami and Devarajulu, Suresh Kumar (2009): Impacts of Watershed Development Programmes: Experiences and Evidences from Tamil Nadu. Published in: Agricultural Economics Research Review , Vol. 22, No. Conference Number (November 2009): pp. 387-396.

Abstract

The overall performance of watershed development programmes has been examined in the state of Tamil Nadu. The impacts of major watershed development programmes have been outlined in terms of biophysical impacts, environmental impacts, socio-economic impacts and overall economic impacts. It is pointed out that the watershed development activities have made significant positive impacts on various biophysical aspects such as soil and water conservation, soil fertility, soil and water erosion in cropped area, changes in cropping pattern, cropping intensity, production and productivity of crops. Watershed development activities have shown significant positive impacts on water table, perenniality of water in wells, water availability for cattle and other domestic uses, etc. The overall economic impacts have been evaluated in terms of NPV, IRR and BCR. The peoples’ participation in watershed development activities has been found satisfactory but the optimal level is yet to be achieved. Training of farmers has been found effective in disseminating technical knowledge. According to the study, the future strategy should be the movement towards a balanced approach of matching the supply-driven menu with a set of demand-driven activities. Peoples’ participation, involvement of Panchayati Raj Institutions, local user groups and NGOs along side institutional support from different levels, viz. the Union Government, the state, the district and block levels should be ensured to make the programme more participatory, interactive and cost-effective. Convergence of various rural development programmes around the watershed could be ensured to promote holistic development of watersheds. For its continued success, the programme, should be economically efficient, financially viable, technically feasible and socially acceptable while ensuring equity. For, sustainable development, regular and routine monitoring of environmental parameters is important as environmental enhancement increases the credibility and acceptability of the programme.

• Item Type: MPRA Paper
• Language: English
• Keywords: Watershed Development; Net Present Value; Benefit Cost Ratio;Tamil Nadu
• Subjects: Q - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics ; Environmental and Ecological Economics > Q1 - Agriculture; N - Economic History > N5 - Agriculture, Natural Resources, Environment, and Extractive Industries

References

Department of Land Resources (2006). Report of the Technical Committee on Watershed Programmes in India, From Hariyali to Neeranchal, Department of Land Resources Ministry of Rural Development Government of India.

Deshpande R.S and N.Rajasekaran, Impact of Watershed Development Programme: Experiences and Issues, Artha Vijnana 34 (3) : 374-390, 1997.

Evaluation and Applied Research Department. 1981. An Evaluation report on Soil Conservation Scheme under the DPAP in Ramanathapuram district.

Evaluation and Applied Research Department. 1991. Report on the Evaluation of Soil Conservation works executed in Sholur Micro Watersheds in Nilgris district under HADP, Evaluation and Applied Research Department, Chennai.

Govt. of Tamilnadu, Groundwater Resources of Tamil Nadu-Present Status of Development, Public Works Department, Groundwater, Govt. of Tamil Nadu, Chennai, 1994, 2003.

Kerr, John, Ganesh Pangare, V.L.Pangare and P.J.George, “An Evaluation of Dryland Watershed Development Projects in India”, EPTD Discussion Paper No.68, International Food Policy Research Institute, Washington.D.C. 2000.

Madhu, M.Subhash Chand, P.Sundarambal and A.K.Sikka. 2004. Report on Impact Evaluation of DPAP Watersheds in Coimbatore District (IV Batch), Central Soil and Water Conservation Research and Training Institute, Research Centre, Uthagamandalam, Tamil Nadu.

Palanisami, K and D Suresh Kumar (2002). “Participatory Watershed Development Programmes: Institutional and Policy Issues,” Paper presented at the Workshop on “Rainfed Agriculture in Asia: Targeting Research for Development,” 2-4 December 2002, ICRISAT, Patancheru, India.

Palanisami, K and D Suresh Kumar (2005), “Leapfrogging the Watershed Mission: Building Capacities of Farmers, Professionals and Institutions,” Watershed Management Challenges: Improving Productivity, Resources and Livelihoods, Ed. B R Sharma, J S Samra, C A Scott and S P Wani, International Water Management Institute (IWMI) and International Crop Research Institute for Semiarid Tropics (ICRISAT) Publication, New Delhi: Malhotra Publishing House, 245-257.

Palanisami, K and D Suresh Kumar (2006). Challenges in Impact Assessment of Watershed Development: Methodological Issues and Experiences, (ed.) K.Palanisami and D.Suresh Kumar, (New Delhi: Associated Publishing Company Ltd.,).

Palanisami, K, D.Suresh Kumar and B.Chandrasekaran (2002). ”Watershed Development: Concept and Issues,” Watershed Management: Issues and Policies for the 21st Century, (ed.) K.Palanisami, D.Suresh Kumar and B.Chandrasekaran, (New Delhi: Associated Publishing Company Ltd.,).

Palanisami, K, S.Devarajan, M.Chellamuthu and D.Suresh Kumar (2002), Mid-term Evaluation of IWDP Watersheds in Pongalur Block of Coimbatore District, Technical Report, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, India. Palanisami,K, A.Vidyavathi and C.R.Ranganathan. (2008). Wells for welfare or illfare :Cost of Groundwater Depletion in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India, Water Policy 10 (4) :391-407.

Ramaswamy K. and K. Palanisami. Some Impact Indicators and Experiences of Watershed Development in Drought Prone Areas of Tamil Nadu. In K. Palanisami et.al., (Ed.), Watershed Management – Issues and Policies for 21st Century (India: Associated Publishing Company, 2002), pp. 182-191.

Rao C.H., “Watershed Development in India:Recent Experiences and Emerging Issues”, Economic and Political Weekly, 35 (45):3943-3947,2000.

Sharma, B.R. and C.A.Scott. (2005). Watershed Management Challenges: Introduction and Overview, In Watershed Management Challenges:Improving Productivity, Resources and Livelihoods” (ed.) B.R.Sharma, J.S.Samra, C.A.Scott and S.P.Wani, International Water Management Institute (IWMI) and International Crop Research Institute for Semiarid tropics (ICRISAT) publication, (New Delhi:Malhotra Publishing House). PP: 245-257.

Sikka, A K, Subhash Chand, M Madhu and J S Samra (2000), “Report on Evaluation Study of DPAP Watersheds in Coimbatore District,” Central Soil and Water Conservation Research and Training Institute, Udagamandalam, India.

Sikka, A.K.N.Narayanasamy, B.J.Pandian, V.Selvi, Subhash Chand and Ayyapalam. 2001. Report on Participatory Impact Evaluation of Comprehensive Watershed Development Project, Tirunelveli, Central Soil and Water Conservation Research and Training Institute, Research Centre, Uthagamandalam, Tamil Nadu.

Suresh Kumar, D. “Why Does Community Participation fail after the State Withdraws? Understanding Watershed Management in Tamil Nadu” Policy Brief No.21-07, June 2007, South Asian Network for Development and Environmental Economics, Nepal.

Suresh Kumar, D. Can Participatory Watershed Management be Sustained ? Evidence from Southern India, SANDEE Working Paper No 22-07, (Nepal : South Asian Network for Development and Environmental Economics), 2007.

Suresh Kumar,D and K.Palanisami. An Economic Inquiry into Collective Action and Household Behaviour in Watershed Management, Indian Journal of Agricultural Economics, 64 (1) : 108-123. 2009.

Wani Suhas P, Joshi PK, Raju KV, Sreedevi TK, Wilson JM, Shah Amita, Diwakar PG, Palanisami K, Marimuthu S, Jha AK, Ramakrishna YS, Meenakshi Sundaram SS and D’Souza Marcella. 2008. Community Watershed as a Growth Engine for Development of Dryland Areas. A Comprehsive Assessment of Watershed Programs in India. Global Theme on Agroecosystems. Report No 47. Patancheru 502324, Andhra Pradesh, India: International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) and Ministry of Agriculture and Ministry of Rural Development. 156 pp.

World Bank, India-Water Resources Management Sector Review, Groundwater Regulation and Management Report, Rural Development Unit, South Asia Region, New Delhi, 1998.