Integrated Watershed Development
India is one of the major agricultural countries with more than 70% of the population depending on it. Indian agriculture is dependent on monsoon. This is not uniform over the years, nearly three fourths of the cultivable land in India is dependent on monsoon, which is contributing nearly 42% of the total production from agriculture .Therefore the conservation up gradation and utilization of natural resources (land, water, vegetation & livestock) on scientific principals is essentials for the sustainability of rainfed agriculture is gaining importance over the years and it amply demonstrated that watershed developmental tools are very effective in meeting the objectives of the watershed. Man and environment are interdependent. It is basically the area of survival of the community living with in it and drawing its sustenance from it. In resource fragile areas these demands and the claims on the environment are enormous. Any change in the surrounding environment directly affects the people living therein. A degraded environment results in a degraded quality of life of the people and environmental degradation does not recognize administrative and political boundaries. Hence a watershed provides a natural environment unit for planning the developmental initiates. It is scientifically proven method for insitu soil moisture and water conservation
The AVISHKAR is implementing Shivanagere watershed development in five villages in Dodderi hobli, Madhugiri taluka of Tumkur district, Karnataka state. The watershed development programme sponsored by NABARD, Bangalore, covering 1368 ha in three micro watersheds benefiting 900 families in five villages with the active involvement of Village watershed committee (VWC). The project aims to promote participatory planning and implementation of watershed development activities for sustainable management of natural resources by involving the community .The watershed activities such as trench cum bunding, waste weirs, boulder bunds farm ponds, dry land horticulture, bund plantation and demonstration activities has been carried out. Eight farm ponds have been constructed these farm ponds have helped in protective watering for dry land horticulture and vegetable cultivation.
Objectives of the Watershed project:
- To increase the productivity of land by suitable conservation measures and management of rain water, soil and biodiversity.
- To build capacity of watershed community to ensure their participation in watershed development activities.
- To increase the agricultural production by providing suitable agricultural technology, trainings and crop demonstrations
- To improve the economic level of vulnerable families by creating suitable employment opportunities.
- To ensure quality, equality and transparency by encouraging community participation in watershed works.
AVISHKAR Approaches in watershed development:
- Participatory planning and implementation
- Intensive trainings and exposure for farmers , village watershed committees and implementation
- Contribution by local community in the form of Shramadhan and maintenance fund
- Trench cum bunding (TCB) across the slope at appropriate intervals
- Planting of 70 to 100 mixed forestry species on trench cum bunding to protect the bunds and provide necessary tree cover to the land
- Plantation of dry land horticulture tree species in the field
- Promotion of sustainable agriculture practices/organic farming
- Increasing biodiversity and crop diversity in the watershed
- Excavation of percolation ponds at the rate of one percolation pond for every 8 to 10 ha.
- Promotion of livelihood activities for vulnerable section families.
Shivanagere watershed progress achieved:
| Sl. No | Activities | Unit | Achievements |
| 1. | Villages covered | Nos | 5 |
| 2. | Gramasabhas conducted | Nos | 13 |
| 3 | Base line survey conducted | families | 860 |
| 4 | Training and capacity building | Nos | 03 |
| 4 | Watershed area | Hectare | 1368 |
| 5 | Trench cum Bunding | ha | 112 |
| 6 | Bund plantation | Nos | 4940 |
| 7 | Horticulture plantation | Nos | 3000 |
| 8 | Waste weirs | Numbers | 77 |
| 9 | Boulder bund | Rmt | 84 |
| 10 | Crop demonstrations | Farmers | 19 |
| 11 | Azolla cultivation | families | 02 |
| 12 | Vermi composting | Families | 03 |
| 13 | Fodder development | Ha | 54 |