Indian Journal of Soil Conservation

Watershed-based development in India has been the strategy for growth and sustainability of agriculture in semi-arid and dry sub-humid regions. Large public investments have been assigned for the purpose in the last 25 years with little tangible results as stated by Planning Commission of India (2005) and more investments are earmarked for this purpose. Approaches to watershed development and management differ notwithstanding guidelines for a common approach, often resulting in lopsided development that renders comparison of gains achieved in any two watersheds, unrealistic. In view of the importance of watershed program for development of rainfed regions in India, a study was undertaken to evaluate livelihood security of farm households using multi-disciplinary tools and techniques. Sustainability indicators were constructed to evaluate livelihood security at household level in four treated micro-watersheds in four villages located in Telangana region of Andhra Pradesh identified as agro-ecological sub-region (AESR) 7.2. The methodology developed under this study facilitates a quantitative evaluation of impact of watershed projects in the region. Study indicates that to achieve livelihood security, watershed development program must emphasis on two issues -increasing yield and income. The indicators useful for evaluating these two issues were identified as development of sources of irrigation, soil OC content and fertility status, adoption rate of improved land management practices, slope management, S&WC measures, etc. In order to convert these intangible aspects of agricultural management into tangible results, institutional support by way of increasing access to institutional credit and mobilizing farmers to form associations that could take care of their interests, were found to be vital. The present paper illustrates the methodology developed to evaluate livelihood security in two micro-watersheds in a village called Pamana located in Rangareddy District of Andhra Pradesh.