Watershed Management for Sustainable Agriculture in Indian Perspectives

The effect of watershed management programme was studied with introduction of new crop-cultivars including six rainy season crops namely direct seeded rice (drilled rice), transplanted rice, arhar, groundnut, sesamum and maize and two winter season crops namely mustard and wheat. The crop demonstration programme were undertaken for consecutive four years during 1988 to 1991 to utilize different land situations and for effective use of created irrigation potential at a drought prone tract of West Bengal (India). Radhamanpur watershed having a total geographical area of 364 hectare with rolling and undulating topography, had no chance of growing second crop(s) after harvest of rainy season tall indica rice cultivar under below optimum production level less than 1 ton/hectare before commencement of the project. The watershed was one, out of the twenty watersheds idientified initially during early eighties to undertake experimentation for development of rainfed agriculture under National Watershed Development Projects in India. The watershed was located in the district of Bankura at the western end of West Bengal, continuation of Chottonagpur plateau lies between 22o38' to 23o30' N latitude and 86o36' to 87o46' E longitude having an elevation of 90 m to 120 m above the mean sea level. The soil contained 0.35% to 0.38% organic carbon, 60 kg to 65 kg available P2O5/hectrare and 100 kg to 105 kg exchangeable K2O/hectare having pH of 5.5 to 6.0 (1:2 soil:water suspension). The results of the crop demonstration revealed that with selection of crops and its suitable varieties, adopting improved agronomic practices including scientific management of fertilizers and irrigation water, plant protection measures, the productivity of both land and crops markedly increased. The crop production strategy on the basis of land capability classification changed the land use, cropping pattern and crop intensity in the watershed area. The scenario of rainfed agriculture got a dramatical change with creating irrigation potential, harvesting and reclying the excess rain water. Watershed approach appeared to be most effective and integrated management of all natural resources like soil-plant-water-animal and human to uplift to socio- economic status of the farmers disseminating the location specific proven agro-technologies in massive scale for sustainable agriculture in rainfed areas. The scope left for development of agro- forestry, silvipasture, agri-horticulture, animal husbandry, fisheries and building up several agro- based industries with abundant supply of raw materials. The programme was found cost effective, generated employment opportunities of the rural people through out the year and increased individual family income of each beneficiaries of the adopted villages. The success gave encouragement and impetus to the fellow farmers to keep the process on towards further improvement the different activities through formation of various Wateshed Level Committees.