Farmers’ Perceptions and Adoption patterns of Soil and Water Conservation measures: A case in Nalgonda District of Andhra Pradesh.

Soil and water conservation practices serve to conserve soil moisture as well as reduce erosion. Most farmers are aware of the seriousness of soil erosion on their land. Soil and water conservation programmes can become more cost effective if they are based upon an understanding of farmer's perceptions about soil erosion and the conditions under which they adopt and maintain soil conservation structures. Understanding indigenous methods of soil and water conservation and adoption patterns among farmers are crucial in terms of their utility and scope for further improvement. The present study was carried in Nasarlapally village of Nalgonda district and the sample respondents were 30 farmers selected randomly. The objectives of this study are to find out the socio-economic characteristics of farmers and to know their perceptions, adoption patterns towards different soil and water conservation measures. Sixty per cent of the farmers were old, with small land holdings and 40% of them with no education. Fanners’ awareness and adoption were higher for in-situ and individual conservation measures like summer tillage, ploughing across the slope, field bunding, and vegetating the bunds in comparison with ex-situ measures (like farm ponds and gabion structures). Participatory approaches to soil and water conservation by building on the existing traditional practices would yield new technologies that are more widely adopted and effective.