Impact of Gawsud Watershed Project on Changes in Land Use and Cropping Patterns of Farmers in Osmanabad District of Maharashtra

Soil erosion due to traditional mode of farming is considered a serious environment constraint to agricultural and rural development in Maharashtra state of India. This paper attempts to study the impact of Gawsud watershed project on changes in land use pattern and cropping pattern of selected farmers. In the study comparison has been made between beneficiary and non-beneficiary farmers in the command area of the project. The comparative study indicated that the land holding was higher on beneficiary farms, while irrigated area was higher in beneficiary than non-beneficiaries. The cropping intensity was higher in beneficiary farm (170.75 %) than non-beneficiary (159.02 %). Area under soybean, jowar, groundnut and sugarcane was more with beneficiary farmers as compared to non-beneficiary farmers. The cropping pattern in the post development period of watershed shifted in favours of commercial and high value crops. Such an analysis will help in launching different programmes for developing agriculture in the state. Result of study will help policy makers,administrators and research worker for development of agriculture in different fields to plan their strategies for overall development of state