Evaluation of watershed development projects under different institutional mechanisms in Bellary district of northern Karnataka, India

Participatory watershed management has emerged as a new paradigm for sustainable rural livelihoods and it occupied the central-stage of all rural development programmes including watershed programmes in the fragile and semi-arid environments of the developing nations. A study was carried out to evaluate the relative performance among the watersheds implemented by different organizations in terms of various participatory indicators. One watershed each implemented by Government organization (Lottinekere) and NGO (Kalvi) were selected from Bellary district of Karnataka State, India and data was collected from members of project implementing agencies and watershed development team using a well designed schedule. The results indicated that both Kalvi and Lottinekere watersheds have greater Participation Paradigm Index value for preparation of strategic action plan (86%) and structure of WDT (100%). Level of participation was higher in Kalvi watershed (87%) compared to Lottinekere watershed (47%). Both watersheds were poor in terms of monitoring activities and management of common property resources. Participatory Watershed Development Index for Kalvi and Lottinekere watersheds were 61% and 56% that indicates implementing agencies were able to fulfill 61% and 56% of possible components of participatory watershed development programmes.