Impact Assessment of Watershed Development : Issues Methods and Experiences

Watershed development has been conceived as one of the important rural development programmes in India where the rainfed agriculture is characterised by low productivity degraded natural resources and widespread poverty. Recognising the importance of watershed development for their perceived ability to promote agriculture and rural development both Central and State Governments make huge investments on watershed development and management. As million of rupees are invested on watershed development it is essential that the programme have positive impact. It is in this context the Impact Assessment of Watershed Development and Management assumes importance. Difficulties in the assessment of Watershed Development impact stem from its multi faceted nature. Watershed development changes (at different spatial and temporal scales) and is assessed in terms of multiple objectives such as poverty alleviation resilience and soil and water resources conservation and human social development that reflect the needs and expectations of different stakeholders. Impact assessment estimates the effect of an intervention on its physical surroundings the people involved and/or the organizational context and refers to short term outputs of products medium term result and longer term consequences or outcomes and is a crucial component of the watershed development and management policy making. Impact assessment facilitates informed decision making processes of different stakeholders. The stakeholders range from local farmers community organizations governments to external development oriented organizations and researchers and policy makers. Assessment of the progress and changes effected by watershed development activities over a specified time period requires a systematic and continuous monitoring process. In addition an evaluation process permits identifications of broader positive and negative outcomes of watershed treatment activities and to reach conclusion about their overall effectiveness in reaching projected objectives. Impact assessment of watershed development can feedback into planning and prioritization process. The present volume is the outcome of a national seminar on Impact Assessment of Watershed Development Conceptual and Methodological Issues organised by Water Technology Centre Tamil Nadu Agricultural University Coimbatore. It contains valuable papers on different themes such as Theoretical and Empirical Issues in Watershed Impact Assessment Decision Support System for Watershed Development Planning and Evaluation and Experiences and case studies in relation to impact assessment of watershed development. The book attempts to provide a forum for discussing various issues in relation to impact assessment of watershed development. It is hoped that this effort of ours will enhance understanding of the issues involved and aid in proper policy framework. Also the book would be very much useful to the researchers scholars NGOs PIAs government officials donor agencies and policy makers and planners.…