Question

1. State briefly the results of watershed management project near Kothapally village​

Answer 1

Answer:

Creating a proof-of-concept and a learning

site for extension agents, NGOs, the national

agricultural research system, policy makers

as well as for farmers was one of the main

objectives of ICRISAT when the institute started

its work in the Adarsha watershed in Kothapally

village, Ranga Reddy district in Andhra Pradesh,

India in 1999. The initial phase consisted of:

• A detailed and systematic baseline

characterization of the natural resource base

and the socio-economic condition of the

local population.

• The formation of a consortium including

local and national research institutions as

well as government authorities to provide

technical support.

In close collaboration with the community,

ICRISAT accordingly tested, evaluated and

further developed a wide range of management

styles and agricultural innovations to improve

the living conditions of the people in Kothapally,

and to prove that scientific backstopping,

participation of the rural population and the

collaboration of various institutions in multi-

disciplinary consortia can make a difference.

Kothapally consists of:

• 465 ha of which 430 ha are cultivated;

• 274 households (1492 people) with an

average landholding per household of 1.4 ha

(70% of the households own less than 2 ha

each);

• Predominantly Vertisols and associated soils

(90%) (Figure 1);

• An undulating topography with an average

slope of 2.5% (Figure 2).

Today, the community manages the watershed

independently; the project has proven to be

sustainable. The watershed continues to serve as

a learning site for all stakeholders in water and

land management throughout India and beyond.

The following components are some of the

technologies and management styles that ICRISAT

and partners introduced in the watershed.

Community Participation: Active participation

is a crucial component for the success of every

watershed project. Different organizations such as

the Watershed Association, User Groups and Self-

Help Groups (SHGs) were founded to decide upon

the construction of structures and to handle the

maintenance.