Factors for Continue Adoption of Soil and Water Conservation Technologies for Watersheds Management in India

Abstract

The Indian Institute of Soil and Water Conservation (IISWC) and its research Centres have developed successfully many model watersheds in India in the past and implemented large number of Soil and Water Conservation (SWC) technologies for sustainable management of watersheds. Though many evaluation studies regarding hydrology and crop production have been conducted on these watershed projects in the past, assessment of continue adoption ofSWCtechnologies has not been done. This research study was conducted during 2012-15 as core project at Vasad as lead centre along with IISWC headquarter Dehradun, and Centres Agra, Bellary, Chandigarh, Datia, Kota & Ooty, with the specific objective to measure the extent of continue adoption behaviour of farmers towards adopted SWC technologies and also ascertain the factors responsible for their continuance for watershed management. Data collection schedule was developed along with indices for measurement of continue adoption behaviour of farmers towards SWC technologies. Proportionate stratified random sampling plan was adopted for selection of at least 50 respondent farmers from selected 38 watersheds in the country and data collection was done through personal interview method. The study revealed that about three-fourth (73%) SWC technologies continued adopted by farmers of watersheds developed by IISWC and its centres in the country. It was also revealed that farmers continued adopted bunding (62.7%), land leveling (37.1%), terracing (29.3%), check dam (22.8%), gully plug (11.2%) and pond (6.2%) technologies by beneficiary farmers in their fields for sustainable management of watersheds. Reduction in runoff & soil loss, ground water recharge and more yield were the most important reasons for continued adoption of these SWC technologies for sustainable management of the watersheds developed by IISWC and its Centres in the country.