H. Biswas

Prioritising development planning in the Indian semi-arid Deccan using sustainable livelihood security index approach

This paper presents the status of sustainable livelihood security index (SLSI) of Karnataka, the most drought prone state in the Southern part of India. Computation of ecological security index, economic efficiency index and social equity index, and finally SLSI were carried out at the district level for the entire state, using empirical data. The selected indicators were first normalised, and then using estimated weights, indices were computed. The results indicate that the state has a very low SLSI with only 27.6% of total geographical area (TGA) and 21.7% of population being placed in the ‘sustainable’ and ‘highly sustainable’ categories (covering 10 districts) while only 34% of the TGA covering six districts falls in the ‘moderately sustainable’ category. The remaining area, confined mostly to the northern parts of the state, comprising 14 districts (51.8% of the state’s TGA) is categorised as ‘less sustainable’ and ‘very less sustainable’ exposing 44.4% (27.14 million) of state’s population to the perils of uncertain rainfall, high soil erosion rates, high social inequality and poor resource use efficiency. There is an urgent need to reorient development programmes and prioritise development investments in these vulnerable districts so that they are provided resources and opportunities to improve their ecological (more forest cover and less soil erosion), economic (higher agricultural productivity) and social (improved health and education facilities and rural infrastructure) status and achieve sustainable levels of livelihood.

Watershed Evaluation and Farmers’ Preference – An Experience from Watershed Projects in Karnataka (India)

Soil and water are essential natural resources that support life on earth but they are continuously diminishing and threatened due to various biotic factors. Runoff induced soil erosion and land degradation is the most serious and prevalent problem now all over the world. It is estimated that about 80% of the current degradation on agricultural land in the world is caused by soil erosion due to water (Angima et al., 2003). Land degradation has International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences ISSN: 2319-7706 Volume 7 Number 09 (2018) Journal homepage: http://www.ijcmas.com

Integrated Natural Resource Management in India Through Participatory Integrated Watershed Management

In addition to the dynamic and inter-linked ecological and hydrological cycles that occur in nature, natural resource management also deals with various stakeholders and their needs, policies and economic implications. This resulted in the concept of integrated natural resource management (INRM), a people-centric approach evolved through the convergence of research in diverse areas such as sustainable land use, participatory planning, integrated watershed management and adaptive management. This chapter deals with two principal components of INRM, viz. soil and water. In order to reverse the process of land and water degradation, it is imperative to follow integrated soil and water management (ISWM) strategies. Such a strategy is the focal point of participatory integrated watershed management (PIWM). Watershed-based approach attempts to bring out the best possible balance in environment between natural resources and living beings as both are interdependent. This holistic approach provides an ideal tool for planning and implementation of integrated soil and water conservation measures from the highest point to the outlet of the watershed, covering barren hill slopes, marginal lands, common lands, private lands, eroded gullies and drainage lines in order to prevent the degradation of natural resources. Some examples of adoption of INRM in different parts of the country through PIWM have been provided at the end of this chapter.

Groundwater Extraction in Karnataka and its Long Term Implications

This study aims to assess the trend and status of groundwater exploitation in Karnataka, which has a significant area under hard rocks and dry land agriculture. At present, more than half of the states cultivated area comes under critical to over-exploited category of groundwater exploitation. The density of groundwater structures in state has become 10.63 units per 100 ha, which is three times more than what was in early eighties. Incidence of well failure is increasing because of drying up of existing wells. There is a need to take appropriate measures to contain further exploitation of groundwater, and rejuvenate existing defunct open well and deep tube wells.