The National Watershed Development Project for Rainfed Areas (NWDPRA), is a major thrust program which was launched by the Department of Agriculture and Cooperation (DOAC) of the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperation (MOAC) of the Government of India during the period of the eighth plan (1992-1997).
The ultimate objective of the NWDPRA is to develop the natural resource base, sustain its productivity, improve the standard of living of millions of poor farmers and landless labourers, and work towards the restoration of the ecological balance.
In April 1995 the FARM Program was requested to conduct a rapid review of the field procedures of the NWDPRA in order to identify areas where the NWDPRA might be strengthened. The review team consisted of Dr. J. M. Stainburn and myself. It is our assessment that the NWDPRA has the potential to bring about a revolution in rainfed watershed resource management in India.
This review is intended to assist the NWDPRA by identifying gaps and constraints to its successful application and by offering recommendations to strengthen the implementation process.
This is the final document prepared based on the review conducted by the FARM team in April 1995. Comments were received from MOAC in Aug., 1995. These have been considered in the preparation of this final document. We recognise that the observations contained in the document are based on only four watersheds and therefore might not be applicable to all 2,500 watersheds in the NWDPRA. Also, the NWDPRA is a national program which would require much more time for a complete and detailed review/appraisal than was available to the team. However, the authors feel that the document provides enough important leads which should help in further investigation in detail. This is suggested to be done by working groups of national experts under the umbrella of a proposed Indian Watershed Management Network (WATMANET). Since it is for the first time that a modest level of investment is available for rainfed watershed development, it is proposed that the Indian WATMANET be a precursor to an Indian Institute of Watershed Management (IIWM) for holistic training of watershed managers and professionals. The III edition of the document is published courtesy PWMTA, GCP/RAS/161/NET, to meet the continued demand for this document from India and else where.
We hope that our suggestions and recommendations will further assist the NWDPRA in achieving its objectives. The whole FARM team looks forward to working with the NWDPRA program, on issues of sustainable agriculture and natural resources management in India for rainfed watershed development.
April, 1997
Prem N. Sharma
Regional Coordinator and
Sr. NRM Advisor (WM)
PWMTA-FARM, FAO (UN)
Kathmandu, Nepal
