A MODEL OF FARM AND FOREST DEVELOPMENT FOR SHIWALIK FOOTHILLS

Abstract

THE FOOTHILL REGIONS LIKE SHIWALIKS HAVE LONG REMAINED UNDEVELOPED. THERE HAS RARELY BEEN ANY MARKETABLE SURPLUS AND THE FARMERS HAVE SUSSISTED ON WHAT THEY COULD PRODUCE FROM THE BUSHY ERODED LANDS. THINGS ARE HOW EVER, FAST CHANGING WITH THE INTRODUCTION OF NEW SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION TECHNOLOGY. THE INTEGRATED APPROACH OF FARM AND FOREST DEVELOPMENT AS DEMONSTRATED IN VILLAGE SUKHOMAJRI THROUGH AN OPERATIONAL RESEARCH PROJECT IS PAYING RICH DIVIDENDS. THE PAPER REPORTS THAT THE ROOT CAUSE OF THE REAL PROBLEM OF SOIL CONSERVATION IS BURRIED DEEP INTO THE SOCIAL SPECTRUM OF THESE HILLY VILLAGES. PROVIDING BENCH MARK DATA OF VILLAGE SUKHOMAJRI , THE COMPLETE PACKAGE OF WATERSHED MANAGEMENT HAS BEEN DESCRIBED. SOME OF THE IMPORTANT ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE PROJECT SUCH AS REDUCTION IN SEDIMENT LOAD TO THE SUKHNA LAKE, IMPROVEMENT IN CROP YIELDS , USE OF IMPROVED SEEDS AND FERTILIZER , INCREASE IN MILK PRODUCTION, REDUCTION IN GOATS AND INCREASE IN STALLFED BUFALLOES , IMPROVEMENT IN GRASS YIELD AND VEGETATION COVER IN THE FOREST, EMPLOYMENT GENERATION , ECONOMIC VIABILITY , PEOPLE'S PARTICIPATION HAVE BEEN HIGHLIGHTED.