Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Krishi Bhawan, New Delhi.
†Delivered on 11th November 2002 at the 67th Annual Convention of the Indian Society of Soil Science held at the Jawaharlal Nehru Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Jabalpur.
Flow and distributions of natural fluxes of rainwater, nutrients, eroded soil, microflora, fauna and energy occurs within boundaries of a naturally defined hydro-geological unit of a watershed. Integrated management of all resources is called upon to harmonize their synergies for internalising maximum economic and conservation benefits. Biophysical applications of R&D during 1960s and 1970s provided limited livelihood and environmental securities. Importance of socioeconomic factors for further consolidation of sustainable development process was realized during 1980s. A practical participatory and demand-driven watershed development programme was launched in 1990s. Community organizations, NGOs and many registered institutions became competitor of the government agencies. Various strategies of grass root level empowerment and conflict resolution were experimented to internalize larger benefits of biophysical research. On an average Rs.1000 crores per annum was invested into this new paradigm of development during Ninth Plan (1997–2002) by different development agencies. This process has been accepted for rural development programmes and resource conservation for Tenth Plan period also with still higher level of investments. There are definite mechanisms for the participation of landless, disadvantaged sections of society and women to ensure equity of the process. Prioritization of research for further improvement and extension of the process based participatory development is called upon.
