Touring
theThar
Sheldon
Serrao takes a closer look at watershed development. He elaborates
on the benefits of the programme by using the Natata project in Rajasthan
as a case-in-point
Ecology,
environment and poverty are closely interwoven and reflect the lifestyle
of the people living in that eco-space. An ecologically balanced environment
maximises the productive potential of the community, leading to livelihood
security and income stability. Food scarcity in the early 1960s in
the country led to the implementation of strategies that resulted
in the green revolution. Similarly, now productivity constraints under
rainfed farming are being removed through watershed development programmes.
Over the years, the Government has implemented many such programmes.
However, they focused on soil and water conservation measures. Very
little efforts and funds went towards harnessing the productive potential
of these natural resources. Farmers in rainfed areas lacked the required
skills for sustenance farming, which resulted in no surplus. This
severely limited their investment capacity and risk taking ability
to switch over to high-return modern farming.
Mobilisation of capital, skill upgradation and creation of support
infrastructure are desirable for both private and public lands, as
a sizeable proportion of the consumption needs of any community are
still dependent on these factors.
The approach should therefore focus on private investment as the core
thrust area. All other activities under watershed development programmes
should be undertaken to maximise the gains for the community through
the adoption of modern technology and inputs.
WATERSHED DEVELOPMENT
Watershed development
is a programme that identifies the integrated interaction between
various natural resources belonging to a watershed, which is a natural
phenomenon and generated by flowing water. This ensures minimal disturbances
in the natural processes, thereby protecting the environment, increasing
productivity, and conserving water supplies.
The symbiotic link between the environment and the human community
living within an ecospace, can be sustainable only when people see
the relationship between poverty and their impoverished environment,
and are provided with an equivalent, if not superior, economic alternative
in the interim. It is difficult for any community to willingly forego
their claims on the environment in favour of possible benefits accruing
in the long run from environmental regeneration and appropriate management.
This attitude greatly influences participation in watershed development
programmes. Most of the activities finding ready acceptance are those
that do not substantially alter their present livelihood activities.
Thus, some efforts to regenerate land and water resources under watershed
programmes have only marginally improved their current status, and
substantial gains are yet be seen. Low technology and low-return farming
systems create few employment opportunities, that too only for unskilled
labour.
THE NATATA PROGRAMME
The MR Morarka-GDC Rural Research Foundation,
a voluntary organisation, focuses on carrying out research by involving
grassroot beneficiaries for sustainable agricultural development.
The foundation restricts its role to that of a catalyst, coordinator
and facilitator, encouraging necessary participation of the rural
community and entrepreneurs. One of Morarka Foundation’s prominent
and important watershed development programmes was at Natata village
in the arid state of Rajasthan.
Prior to the implementation of the programme, Natata, with a population
of 4,900, had cultivated land spanning 150 ha and grasslands and wasteland
spanning 28 and 66 ha respectively. The area had very low yields for
all crops. The ground water table had receded and over 50 per cent
of the wells in the village were dry.
As a result, Natata was an ideal model for learning and implementation
of programmes for other villages. What triggered the necessity for
the implementation of such a project was the fact it had not rained
more than 300 mm in the last seven years, as opposed to the average
rainfall of 400 mm per year that Natata received previously. Morarka
Foundation drafted a plan in conjunction with the community and was
offered support by the District Rural Development Agency, Jaipur.
The project was approved in 1996 with a targeted area of 244 ha, a
duration of four years and a project cost estimation of Rs 9.76 lakh.
THE PROGRAMME OBJECTIVES
The overall objectives of the programme were to develop
micro watersheds. The focus for this purpose was on the enhancement
of sustainable agricultural systems. This would create adequate and
sustainable livelihood opportunities for the people inhabiting Natata,
thus mitigating the impact of drought and alleviation of poverty.
The strategies were oriented towards ensuring equivalent and substantially
improved gains in the long run. The approach was focused on ecological
renewal and resource mobilisation along equitable lines. The people
were constituted into self-help groups and an institutional framework
was created for replicability and long-term sustainability...
contd...
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