Uttarakhand - Department of Land Resources

fourths of the total population dependent on agriculture for their livelihood. Also, with over fifteen
important rivers and over a dozen glaciers in the State, Uttarakhand is a valuable fresh water reserve. There
are also about 200 large and medium sized hydro-projects and therefore hydroelectricity continues to be a
prime source of capital for the local economy. Forests cover a large percentage of the land area with many
industries being forest based.
The Himalayan watersheds are under constant threat of mass wasting and erosion caused by depletion of
forest cover, unscientific agronomic practices and hydrologic imbalances. The ever increasing population, the
need to provide a better quality of life to the people and the pressure on natural resources is further
compounding the problem. The total of 7.66 lakh ha. cultivated area in the State 4.21 lakh ha. area is rainfed.
An insight into the rainfed regions reveals a grim picture of poverty, water scarcity, rapid depletion of ground
water table and fragile ecosystem. Land degradation due to soil erosion by wind and water, low rainwater
use efficiency, high population pressure, acute fodder shortage, poor livestock productivity, under investment
in water use efficiency, lack of assured and remunerative marketing opportunities and poor infrastructure are
important concerns of enabling policies. The challenge in rainfed areas, therefore, is to improve rural
livelihoods through participatory watershed development with focus on integrated farming system for
enhancing income, productivity and livelihood security in a sustainable manner.
The main objective of the proposed project is to increase the productivity and income of the rural inhabitants
in the Rainfed Micro-watersheds of the State on priority basis area through sustainable management of the
natural resources. Since agriculture and related activities are the main source of livelihood for the proposed
target area, land based activities and livestock will play a significant role in achieving the project objectives.
The project will reduce the emphasis on traditional crops and will increase prominence on high value crop and
value addition through grading, packaging, processing and encouraging organic farming. Further, to ensure
the sustainability of the proposed activities and ensuring cost sharing by participants for capital investments
and also the recurrent costs associated with maintenance of the assets.
To realize the above objectives following three components and sub components need to be incorporated in
the Integrated Watershed Management Project (IWMP).
1. Participatory Watershed Development and Management
Promotion of social mobilization and community driven sustainable and equitable decision making
Collectively planned Watershed Treatments