Browsing by Author "Anjana, P M"

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    Economic analysis of watershed development - a study of Jalasamrudhi project, Thiruvananthapuram
    (Department of Agricultural Economics, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, 2024-05-18) Anjana, P M; Paul Lazarus, T
    The research work entitled “Economic analysis of watershed development – A study of Jalasamrudhi Project, Thiruvananthapuram” was carried out during 2023-24 with the objectives to study the impact of watershed development programme on crop production, cropping pattern and farm income, to examine the variation in benefits availed by beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries of watershed and analyse the problems and weaknesses of the programme as perceived by beneficiaries. The Jalasamrudhi project was launched in Kattakada assembly constituency, Thiruvananthapuram. Kerala in 2017 to promote economic growth in the village community and ensure sustainable management of natural resources across the entire project area. The Kattakada constituency comprises a total of nine micro watersheds. Out of the nine micro-watersheds, only the Kulathummal thodu micro-watershed had completed all the designated works under the Jalasamrudhi project. The primary data was collected through a survey. The treated watershed selected for the study was Kulathummal thodu micro watershed and the untreated watershed selected for the study was Manappuram micro watershed. The respondents in the fully implemented watershed were designated as beneficiaries whereas respondents in the unimplemented watershed as non-beneficiaries. 80 beneficiaries from the treated watershed and 80 non-beneficiaries from the untreated watershed were selected, thus making the total sample size 160. Secondary data was collected from the office of the Nemom Block Panchayat, Malayinkeezhu and Directorate of Soil Survey and Soil Conservation, Thiruvananthapuram. Kulathummal thodu micro watershed (2K27b1 and 2K27b2) was one of the fully implemented micro watershed under Jalasamrudhi Project with an area of 1,159.33 ha. The total expenditure of the project was ₹2,98,20,000/- and the major portion was spent on water conservation measures including the construction of check dams, farm ponds, well recharging, renovation of public well and construction of thodu (stream) along with the provision of fruit saplings, cows, poultry birds and cage etc. The project was accompanied by the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Scheme (MGNREGS) during the project period. Manappuram micro watershed (2K27b3) was the unimplemented micro watershed under Jalasamrudhi project. The beneficiary farmers had more annual income, land holdings, and area under different crops when compared to that of non-beneficiaries. The major crops cultivated in the watershed area were banana, rubber, tapioca and coconut. Intercropping of banana with tapioca is the major cropping pattern seen in the selected watersheds. The cost of cultivation of banana and tapioca was calculated using the cost concepts and total cost was more for beneficiaries than that for non-beneficiaries. The profitability was found using the B: C ratio. The B: C ratio at Cost C was more for beneficiaries in the case of banana (2.49) and tapioca (1.42). From the results of the regression analysis, it was evident that the coefficient of multiple determination of beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries had values ranging from 0.69 and 0.79; and 0.78 and 0.83 respectively indicating that large percent of variation in the gross returns was due to the independent variables considered. The positive impact of the watershed development programme was reflected in the increase in the number of beneficiaries adopting water conservation measures such as well recharge, construction of farm ponds, renovation of thodu etc when compared to non-beneficiaries. The impact of watershed development programme on farm income was analysed using two-sample t-test on average net income from crops (banana and tapioca), average net livestock income and average farm income of beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries. The income from crop and farm income showed significant difference in t - test with 5 per cent and 1 per cent level of significance, respectively. There was not much change in the cropping pattern among beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries. The mean ground water table level of beneficiaries (7.773 m) was more when compared to that of non-beneficiaries (6.439 m). All the beneficiaries in the treated watershed responded that due to watershed development programmme, there was an improved availability of irrigation water (100%), improved crop sales (85 %) and improved livestock sales (33.75 %). All the respondents among beneficiaries reported that the watershed development programme had improved scenic beauty, pollination, water filtration, women empowerment, community development and biodiversity or habitat improvement. Major constraints faced by the beneficiaries in treated watershed were crop loss due to high-speed winds, pests and climate change followed by non- availability of inputs and subsidies on time. Suggestions given by the beneficiaries to improve the project were to ensure continuity and follow-up of the programme and by increasing the project period from 5 to 10 years. Jalasamrudhi project has improved the livelihood of the farmers in the treated watershed. Hence such water conservation measures should be extended to the untreated watersheds to increase the production and productivity of the natural resources.