Moisture-Yield Interaction and Farmers' Perceptions : Lessons from Watershed Projects in Gujarat

Traditionally, formers in dryland regions have a fairly good understanding of the critical role of soil-moisture conservation in sustaining the crop yields. This is evidenced by a number of indigenous practices which they traditionally follow. However some of these practices, especially field bundings, often need modifications, besides proper maintenance. One of the technological options adopted more recently in watershed projects in India, is to promote vegetative barriers instead of the conventional earth or stone bunding. These measures though, technologically more sound and environmentally conducive, might bring only limited economic (yield) gains. In that case these measures may fail to achieve the laudable objectives of ensuring sustainability to the farmers, depending on the dryland agriculture.

This paper is on attempt to examine yield impact of vegetative bundings and understand farmers' perceptions about moistur yield interactions under the constrained agro-climatic conditions in Gujarat. The analysis suggests that (a) traditional bundings are not only widely prevalent but also considered very important for higher yields under 'normal' rainfall conditions; Compared to this, yield impact of vegetative barriers - actual, as well as perceived is low and also uncertain, (b) given the indigenous practices of soil-moisture conservation, fortiliser turns out to be the most important factor for obtaining higher yields; and (c) strategy to provide stability in yield would require large scale investments in the form of water harvesting structures and irrigatian. What is, therefore, needed is to improve the net returns, hence, paying capacity of farmers rather than large scale subsidies spread thinly over a large number of watershed projects In the dryland regions.