Year 2016
SANGITA MAITY
TANBIR MOHSIN
IMPACT OF WATERSHED DEVELOPEMENT PROGRAMME ON SOCIO-ECONOMIC CONDITIONS OF FARMERS IN TRIBAL VILLAGES OF RANCHI DISTRICT.-SUBMITTED BY TANBIR MOHSIN
ABSTRACT
Six micro watersheds have been developed by Ramakrishna Mission in Angara Block of Ranchi District. Lapser Dhurleta Vivekanand micro watershed was among of them. The main purpose of this WDP was to conserve the soil moisture and create an irrigation facility. This study attempted to gauge the impact of Lapser Dhurleta Vivekananda Micro watershed. Four villages Tirlakocha, Dhurleta, Bhagnabera, and Borakocha were selected for this study. Total of 100 respondents were selected as sample size and Multi-stage sampling process was adopted in identifying the villages. Firstly, by using stratified sampling method four villages were selected after those 100 respondents were selected from the study area through simple random sampling. The Study indicated that the watershed development programme has increased the income of the farmers through increasing crop production. Besides this equal importance was given to increase the farmer’s income from horticulture and goatry. But less importance was given to fishery.Before the WDP nearly 45 percent area of total land was cultivated but now it has increased to 65 percent. The project could increase the income and employment opportunity of the households. The respondents of Tirlakocha were reported that after implementation of the micro-watershed their income from agriculture has been increased up-to 27 percent. The corresponding numbers for Dhurleta, Bhagnabera, and Borakocha were espectively 41%, 25%, and 25%. But only 55 percent respondents were involved in the site selection process for implementing the water harvesting structures. Most of the respondents were reported that they did not contribute any money in the project, but 75 percent respondents were reported that they provided manual labour in the Watershed Development programme. Most of the respondents belonged to the marginal category so,they were unable to contribute money but through manual labour, they ensured their active participation in the WDP.However, the most critical factor was that the increased income was not distributed equally to all section of people in the study area. Self-Employment schemes like village level small scale industries, post-harvest technologies, livestock, and poultry need to be developed.