Natural resource management and community participation - a study on watershed development projects in Kerala

Abstract

More than 60 per cent of India’s population still reside in rural areas and depend on agriculture for livelihoods. Natural resources are the prime inputs for agriculture and allied activities. Ever increasing population pressure leads to land degradation which adversely affects resource productivity. In Kerala, 67 per cent of total geographic area has already been degraded mainly by soil erosion and soil acidity caused due to anthropogenic and natural factors. Devolution of responsibilities for management of natural resources at the community level has been increasing over years at watersheds in rainfed tracts of the country. With this background, present study was conducted to analyze the perceived effectiveness of watershed development projects in ensuring natural resource management (NRM) and livelihood security by different stakeholders. Factors affecting the effective implementation of these projects were delineated. Extent of adoption of soil and water conservation measures under the projects was examined. Indigenous NRM and climate resilient techniques followed by project beneficiaries were also documented. This exploratory study was undertaken in three micro-watersheds viz., Mundyanum, Allanchery padam-Kallan thodu and Mamoodu from the three districts, Kasaragod, Thrissur and Pathanamthitta representing northern, central and southern zones of Kerala respectively. Projects implemented under Integrated Watershed Management Programme (IWMP) during the period 2010-11 to 2017-18 were selected. From every selected micro-watershed, 50 beneficiaries (NRM) and 40 other stakeholders (30 watershed committee (WC) members and 10 implementing officers) were randomly selected. Thus, a total of 270 stakeholders of IWMP constituted the sample. Analysis of the profile characteristics of different stakeholders in IWMP revealed that majority of them were middle aged, with moderate farming experience. Most of them possessed medium level of leadership quality, innovativeness, decision making ability, risk orientation, group cohesiveness, extension agency contact and had participated in the programme for mainly getting material incentives. More than half of the stakeholders exhibited medium level participation in IWMP and increasing trend in participation was observed from beneficiaries to other categories which was statistically confirmed by KruskalWallis test. Categorical principal component analysis of factors influencing participation of stakeholders delineated psycho-personal-interactive and management factors for beneficiaries while socio-psychological and personal cum interactive factors for WC members. These factors were positively and significantly correlated with extent of participation. It was found that fifty eight per cent of stakeholders had the opinion that watershed projects could derive medium effectiveness in NRM and there were no differences among stakeholders. However, Kruskal-Wallis test proved the order of watersheds in increasing effectiveness as Mundyanum, Allanchery padam-Kallan thodu, Mamoodu respectively. Factor analysis was conducted to validate conceptual framework of effectiveness index. Kendall’s coefficient of concordance revealed that bio-physical dimension had contributed more towards effectiveness in the three watersheds, followed by socio-economic, institutional and sustainability dimensions. Most of the beneficiaries had medium level of capital assets possession for livelihood creation whereas half of them had medium livelihood security. This was highest in Mamoodu and not much variation for Mundyanum and Allanchery padam-Kallan thodu which was verified by Kruskal-Wallis test. Kendall’s coefficient of concordance exposed that human capital had highly influenced the livelihood security of beneficiaries in Mundyanum and Allanchery padam-Kallan thodu however financial capital had highest contribution in Mamoodu. Structural equation modelling (SEM) was employed to confirm the theoretical framework developed for livelihood security. Most of the beneficiaries exhibited medium level of awareness on climate and project activities. They displayed medium adoption of soil and water conservation measures. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed greater influence of awareness on climate and project activities on the extent of adoption by the beneficiaries. Correspondence analysis for indigenous NRM and climate resilient techniques followed other than IWMP interventions and watershed attributes exposed that surangas were closely associated with the attributes of Mundyanum watershed. Farm ponds and loose boulder check dams were more related to Allanchery padam-Kallan thodu attributes. Vetiver cultivation was highly associated with Mamoodu watershed. Pre and post project status of benchmark indicators for evaluation of IWMP showed an increase in all of them. Garrett’s ranking technique was employed to delineate the constraints in implementation of IWMP. Institutional constraint such as unable to complete works in time due to delayed administrative approval was viewed as major constraint by beneficiaries and WC members while inadequate maintenance of developed structures in watershed was the main one experienced by implementing officers. Psychological constraint like meager participation of beneficiaries in project activities was felt as prime constraint by WC members and implementing officers whereas conflicts among stakeholders for developed assets was the main constraint by beneficiaries. Small and marginal landholdings was viewed as an important situational constraint by the beneficiaries while natural calamities and climate vagaries were identified as major constraints by WC members and implementing officers. Technical constraint such as traditional soil and water conservation measures followed in project area was identified as the key constraint by beneficiaries but poor expertise in evaluation of programme by concerned officials was the prime constraint by WC members and implementing officers. All stakeholders expressed that high cost of maintenance of developed structures as the main socio-economic constraint. Group farming and leased land farming with climate resilient agricultural practices are to be encouraged among stakeholder farmers. This would derive more advantages from common property resources and resolve their limited land holdings. Policy measures should be adopted for timely completion of projects and sustainability of resources. Innovative extension strategies have to be promoted for higher level farmer participation