Livelihood Augmentation in Rainfed Areas - Development Support ...

the knowledge about building human and social capital was evident to the editorial
team right from the beginning. Most of the watershed manuals reviewed did not do
justice to this theme, given the overriding importance of placing people in the centre
of all developmental projects and processes. Another issue that was added at a later
stage was the role of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in augmenting
livelihoods in the service sector as well as other livelihood interventions. It was soon
realized that the team would not be able to do justice to all these issues within the
stipulated pages of the volume. In consultation with the Aga Khan Foundation (India),
which is supporting the project, it was, therefore, decided to bring out the handbook in
four, stand-alone volumes, each covering a particular theme.
The compiling of information and experiences was pursued through multiple routes
such as workshops and personal interviews of practitioners, literature reviews, and
the Internet. Wherever cases were readily available, the information was updated and
then included. Wherever interesting experiences were found but not documented,
the authours took upon themselves to document these. As a result of this process
of ‘muddling through’ and also in view of the expanded scope of the handbook, the
project took much longer to complete. Progress was often painfully slow because the
team depended on various actors to provide information and updates. Nevertheless,
the journey has been an enriching one. The authours comprised a practitioner and an
academic; this helped to keep the balance between theory and practice. The readability
of the manuscript for the practitioner at the programme/project level, for whom the
handbook is primarily designed, was under constant review.
Unlocking the potential of rainfed areas needs a conducive policy environment. There
are indications to show that the policy for the development of rainfed areas is gradually
moving in the right direction.
The National Commission on Farmers (2005) recommended a paradigm shift in the
approach and implementation of watershed programmes in the country, and this has
remianed the main plank for developing rainfed areas in an integrated manner. The
Commission advocated partnerships among public sector, private sector, NGOs, and
farmers, particularly the landless and women, through collective action and institutional
mechanisms. It proposed a five-point action plan comprising:
i.
ii.
iii.
Improving soil health to increase productivity.
Promoting water harvesting, water conservation, and sustainable and equitable
use of water.
Ensuring access to affordable credit for crop and life insurance.
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