A study on knowledge, extnet of participation and benefits derived by participant farmers of the watershed development programme
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Date
2005
Authors
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Journal ISSN
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Publisher
UAS, Dharwad
Abstract
A study on knowledge, extent of participation and benefits derived by participant
farmers of the watershed development programme was carried out during 2004-05. Following
proportionate random sampling 150 respondents were selected and data was collected by
personal interview method.
The important findings of the study were; majority (72.67%) of the respondents had
medium level of knowledge in respect of soil and water conservation practices. Majority of
respondents possessed the knowledge that contour cultivation reduces soil erosion and
conserves soil moisture (66.00%), followed by improves soil fertility, controls weeds, pest
and disease, improve soil physical characters and helps to conserve runoff water and eroded
soil.
Regarding extent of participation of farmers in the watershed development programme
it was found that majority (70.00%) of the respondents had medium extent of participation in
watershed activities. Regarding extent of participation in individual watershed development
practices, overall full participation was observed in activities like collection of benchmark
information, identification and analysis of problem, determining the needs, consulting
officials of watershed, determining the locations for construction of nalabunds and constitute
village watershed committee.
Majority of the respondents were middle aged, 29.34 per cent of the respondents
studied upto high school, 62.67 per cent of the respondents belong to nuclear family, 54.00
per cent and 80.00 per cent of the respondents possessed television and radio, respectively,
68.00 per cent of the respondents regularly contacted Agricultural Assistants.
Majority of the respondents (82.00%) expressed benefits like helps to check soil and
water erosion followed by helps in ground water recharge, increase infiltration rate of water,
increases yield and helps in increasing the cropping intensity.
Regarding suggestions for better implementation of watershed development
programme majority of the respondents (59.33%) expressed they need financial assistance for
maintenance of watershed practices followed by the bank loan should be made available at
lesser interest rate, large area should be covered under this programme and also they need
more technical information/guidance by concerned departments extension field functionaries.