Lessons and learnings from mid-term evaluation of watersheds: experiences in God's own country' of Kerala, India.

Management of rainfed agriculture in low or high rainfall regions necessitates equal attention. In both situations, farm households are beset with problems detrimental to agricultural productivity. In the high rainfall area of Kerala specifically in three watersheds supported by the National Watershed Development Project for Rainfed Areas (NWDPRA) launched in the early 1990s, its system of watershed management revealed insights relevant to generic sustainable management of resources. The project, which consists of improved biophysical interventions and enhanced social resources, has significantly abated the major problem of soil erosion and water run-off. In turn, these contributed to a better agricultural livelihood system to an extent. Ensuring community participation by putting into practice demand-driven activities, involving local institutions, developing their commitment and capacities, is the major insight towards the successful management of the watersheds and livelihoods of the NWDPRA project. Institutional reforms in the project like the creation of an autonomous body; the watershed committee (WC) that oversees the watershed activities with legitimate participation of the gram panchayat (system of self-governance at the village level); the panchayat president as a member of the WC provided the avenue for ensuring the cooperation of the village. The initial outcomes of the (participatory) monitoring and evaluation (PME) show need for strengthening capacity building in the areas of productivity enhancement initiatives, better water use strategies, maintenance of water harvesting structures and more importantly programs need to be more inclusive to benefit large number of community members. However, some areas still needing attention are inevitable due to the dynamism of the watershed system. There is the need to address issues of the social exclusion of some segments of the community and making markets work for broad based economic growth, which can then make the watershed project even more sustainable