IMPACT OF INTEGRATED WATERSHED MANAGEMENT ON THE FARMING SYSTEMS IN SEMI- ARID TROPICS OF GUJARAT

Abstract

A WATERSHED OF 570 HA WAS SELECTED IN PANCHMAHALS DISTRICT IN GUJARAT STATE AND THE SOIL CONSERVATION TECHNOLOGIES WERE INTRODUCED. THE PRIMITIVE SYSTEM OF FARMING IN THE AREA WAS IMPROVED UPON BY INTRODUCING CONSERVATION AGRONOMY AND OTHER PACKAGE OF PRACTICES FOLLOWING WATERSHED MANAGEMENT APPROACH. AS A RESULT OF THE PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION , NOT ONLY THE LAND USE PATTERN CHANGED FAVOURABLY BUT THE LAND USE INTENSITY ALSO INCREASED BY 27% OVER THE PREVAILING ONE. THE MONOCROPPING SYSTEM CHANGED TO DOUBLE CROPPING AND AGAINST PURE CROPS, INTERCROPS WERE MAINLY BEING TAKEN ON THE FARM WHICH INCREASED THE CROPPING INTENSITY BY 18%. THE FERTILIZER CONSUMPTION INCREASED OVER THE YEARS AND , IN COMBINATION WITH IMPROVED SEEDS AND HIGHER MOISTURE AVAILABILITY , INCREASED LAND PRODUCTIVITY BY 52 TO 130% IN DIFFERENT CROPS. THE BENEFIT - COST RATIO OF CROP PRODUCTION WORKED OUT TO BE 2.65 INDICATING ITS ECONOMIC VIABILITY.