Success Story of Watershed Management: Case study of Naregudem Village, Kattangur Mandal, Nalgonda District, Telangana

Abstract

Water supports life, population growth and itsImpact in all development spheres. With only 2.4 percent of the world landmass and 4 percent of the renewable water supplies, India supports 18 percent of the world population and 15 percent of all livestock. India largely relies on its agricultural sector as it contributes to its 14 percent GDP and 11 percent exports. Roughly half of the population relies on agriculture as their main source of income and other industries use agriculture as a source of raw materials. 76 percent of the global population had less than 5,100 cubic metrics per annum percapita water availability. It is estimated that by 2030 most population of the earth is going to be living under low supply of water (source: International resource panel (IRP)). The categories of water users in the world are estimated not to change much projecting an increase in the consumption of water considering urbanization in the developing countries. The control of water scarcity has been aimed at improving the efficiency of water use and closing the shortage of infrastructure through watershed management.

India has the Integrated Watershed Management Programme (IWMP), which is carried out by the Ministry of Rural Development in Telangana with the objective to reduce the impact of long-term famine. This program facilitates planned agricultural development in rural areas with planned watershed interventions. A good example of how watershed management and livelihood intervention strategies can be successfully integrated is in Naregudem village in Kattangoor Mandal, Nalgonda district.