Book of Extended summaries ISDA

International Conference on Reimagining Rainfed Agro-ecosystems: Challenges &
Opportunities during 22-24, December 2022 at ICAR-CRIDA, Hyderabad
T1-53 P-1503
Impact of Soil and Water Conservation Interventions on The Livelihood of
Tribal Farmers from The Hilly Area of Palghar District
Pavan Jadhav 1 , D. Divate Anuja 2 and M. Jadhav Vilas 2
1 Deepak foundation, Mokhada
2 Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Kosbad Hill, Palghar 401703
Palghar is a tribal district of the Maharashtra state and has eight talukas having 1008 villages
and household size is 5-6. The economy and livelihood of the tribal people of Palghar District,
Maharashtra is primarily based on rainfed agriculture and forest. The various livelihood
activities include agricultural cultivation wage labour (farm and non-farm labour), collection
of minor forest products, fishing, liquor brewing and selling, job/service, and businesses. The
land holding pattern of the community ranges from 0.05 to 1.0 ha while the yielding capacity
of agricultural land is very low poor economic status of farmers in the hilly region due to lack
of irrigation facility, more soil erosion, undulating topography, no proper use of modern
technology, lack of knowledge about water and soil conservation etc. District receiving annual
rainfall of about 3000 mm during monsoon still farmers face the shortage of water in rabi and
summer season. Hence, Rabi cultivation is almost lacking as well as very little scope for the
diversification of crops. Therefore, many young boys and girls even the adults have migrated
to cities and out of state for work; they are forced to do unsociable activities. This large-scale
migration has a negative impact on the family’s health and the children’s education which
directly affect the livelihood standards of tribal families. Assessment of soil and water
management in agriculture describes a large untapped potential for upgrading rainfed
agriculture and calls for increased water investments in the sector (Molden et al., 2007;
Rockström et al., 2007). Therefore, rainwater harvesting and the adoption of soil conservation
measures solve the stated problems in some extent. The present paper/ study conducted on
reviewing the Impact of soil and water conservation interventions on the livelihood of tribal
farmers from the hilly area of the Palghar district.
Methodology
The present work was conducted from September 2018 to July 2022 in the Dhamani,
Brahmangoan, Kalamgoan, Beriste, Ase, Karoli and Bavalpada villages of Mokhada tahsil of
Palghar district. The villages under the IVDP project were selected in consultation with District
Administration based on the status of the migration, forest cover, crop productivity, the status
of livelihood, health, education status, etc. A primary baseline survey of 1128 households were
conducted in the selected villages through the questionaries to know the framer’s soicoeconomic
condition. Defined soil and water conservation measures construction of CCT, farm
ponds, cultivation of fruits crop on CCT, gravity-based drip irrigation system, recharging pit,
134 | Page Resilience through land and water management interventions, water management and governance