Master of Science - ETD | Electronic Theses and Dissertations of ...

Prasad (1994) opined that watershed approach offers an excellent opportunity for all organized and
integrated management of drylands. It can facilitate an optimal use of the available resources
including soil and water. It leads to greater diversification of dryland farming which would generate
more employment and income earning opportunities and help to reduce mostly the risks inherent in
crop centred activity.
Rajput and Verma (1997) defined integrated watershed management as an appropriate approach to
develop both arable and non-arable lands in rain fed areas for increasing and stabilizing production by
adopting improved soil and water conservation measures.
Randhawa (1987) emphasized that the improvement and sustainability of agricultural
production in the dryland agricultural areas can be achieved through appropriate land shaping, which
will optimise in -situ moisture conservation and will also permit the excess water to be managed in a
manner, where, it could be stored and utilized at a life saving irrigation, also on the adoption of
improved production technologies which involves the use of seeds, fertilizers, plant protection
chemicals and improved implements.
Rajput et al. (2000) opined that watershed development programme should integrate with
multi-disciplinary management to take up soil and water conservation activities, generation of
irrigation facilities, construction of water harvesting structures for multiple uses, animal husbandry,
horticulture, farm forestry and afforestation, which were necessary to maximize production on sustained
basis for overall development of the area.
Tiwari and Mal (2000) quoted water harvesting technology includes inducement and
increment of run-off from land surface by using surface treatment, collection and storage of run-off
water in suitable reservoir or pond, reducing the seepage and evaporation losses and use of
conserved water most efficiently at critical time to provide life saving irrigation to crops.
Singh (2000) opined that watershed as a geographic area drained by stream or a system of
connecting streams such that all surface runoff originating due to the precipitation in this area leaves
the area in a concentrated flow through a single outlet.
Aravind Kumar et al. (2001) opined that the rainwater harvesting techniques recommended
for rainfed crop production in the regions includes the hydraulic efficiency micro-catchments in arid
lands, interplot run-off conservation or storage in surface ponds and under ground reservoir for life
saving irrigation to rainfed crops as well as for domestic purpose.
Padmavathi and Reddy (2002) viewed watershed as a geo-hydrological unit, which drained at
a common point, and they stated that watershed had been accepted as a scientific unit for area
development all over the world.
Sreedharan (2002) reported, that in watersheds of Tamil Nadu, the down stream lands were
benefited by the control of sedimentation through run-off and arrest of flooding by impounding
rainwater. Increase in water table levels observed in dug wells and increased availability of water for
irrigation and drinking water were observed. There was an appreciable increase in water table level
due to various water harvesting structures in the watershed.
Rajvedi (2003) reported in rainwater harvesting as a panacea for water woes and opined that
rainwater conservation makes droughts less severe, rivers will have water throughout year and soil
holds greater level of moisture and consequently, there is increase in agricultural production and thus
economic conditions of rural poor is appreciably improved.
Naidu (2005) defined watershed is an economic and bio-physical system which may contain
people from urban, rural communities, agriculture and forestry, primary and secondary industry. The
land resources of soil, water and vegetation cannot be managed for quality and sustained availability
in isolation from each other or from the watershed environment. Integrated watershed management
has been recognized internationally as an important holistic approach to national resource
management.
2.2 Impact of various rwhs on cropping pattern, cropping intensity,
employment, returns and groundwater recharge
Reddy and Sudha (1988) conducted study at Chevella watershed in Rangareddy district of
Andhra Pradesh and Mittemari watershed in Kolar district of Karnataka, the income from all sources
were higher by Rs. 463/household at Chevella and Rs. 1046/household at Mittemari watershed area,
compared to non-watershed area.
Srinivasa (1988) studied the impact of Chitravathi watershed of Kolar district in Karnataka and found
that productivity of land in terms of yield per hectare increased by 66.79 per cent in ragi, 64.56 per