 | Case Studies of People's Participation in Watershed Management in Asia (PWMTA, 1996) |
 |  | A case study of people's participation in Begnastal and Rupatal (BTRT) watershed management in Nepal |
| | Conclusions and recommendations |
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Conclusions
To manage watershed resources effectively and sustainably, the participation of watershed inhabitants is a must. Unfortunately, people's participation being a social phenomenon, it takes a long time to evolve, while watershed degradation is a natural process which occurs at a much faster rate. In order to reduce this discrepancy and to encourage people's participation in the development and management of watershed resources, a project's intervention was necessary. This study underlined the factors that are important for successful watershed management.
Table 2: Income from marginal land agro-forestry programs
|
Name of agro-forestry farmer and VDC |
Area of Agro-forestry (Ha) |
Income (In 1000 NRs.) | |
| | |
From traditional system |
From agro-forestry |
|
1. Hariprasad Banstola, Majthana |
0.35 |
3.00 |
7.05 |
|
2. Rishiram Banstola, Majthana |
0.80 |
2.10 |
15.76 |
|
3. Chhabilal Bhurtel, Majthana |
0.55 |
6.53 |
25.72 |
|
4. Surya P. Adhikari, Begnas |
0.55 |
7.32 |
20.0 |
Source: Wagley, 1994
Table 3: Net savings of CDCCs in BTRT area
|
Village Development Committee |
No. of CDCCs |
No. of households |
Savings (NRs.) |
|
1. Begnas |
15 |
361 |
84,284 |
|
2. Hanspur |
27 |
957 |
133,961 |
|
3. Kalika |
16 |
601 |
60,089 |
|
4. Lekhnath |
4 |
107 |
28,500 |
|
5. Majthana |
14 |
504 |
107,800 |
|
6. Rakhi |
10 |
363 |
15,866 |
|
7. Rupakot |
14 |
737 |
218,284 |
|
TOTAL |
100 |
3630 |
648,926 |
Source: BTRT WM Project 1995 -
Table 4: Farmers' estimates of crop yield increases due to project intervention
|
Crop |
Yield before project intervention (tons/ha) |
Yield after project intervention (tons/ha) | ||||
| |
Valley Bottom |
Irrigated upland |
Rainfed upland |
Valley Bottom |
Irrigated upland |
Rainfed upland |
|
Rice |
2.7 |
2.1 |
0.5 |
3.35 |
3.05 |
1.7 |
|
Maize |
1.13 |
1.21 |
0.5 |
2.13 |
1.54 |
0.52 |
|
Wheat |
0.78 |
1.23 |
0.374 |
1.34 |
2.31 |
1.15 |
|
Millet |
0.85 |
1.11 |
1.29 |
NA |
1.13 |
1.01 |
Source: Wagley (1994)
Table 5: Estimates of biomass increases during project period
|
Forest type |
No. of trees/ha |
Biomass per hectare | ||
| | |
Fodder (ton) |
Fuelwood (ton) |
Timber (Cu.m.) |
|
Natural forests |
1,635 |
- |
- |
- |
|
Plantation forests |
1,088 |
1.23 |
40.06 |
0.36 |
Source: BTRT WM Project, 1995.
Table 6: Estimates of households participating in the project
|
Activity |
Number of households (HH) or users' group members (UG) | |
| |
Phase I (1985-89) |
Phase II (1990-94) |
|
1. Multiple cropping |
791 hh |
1596 hh |
|
2. Green manuring |
116 hh |
253 hh |
|
3. Private fodder/fuelwood plantation |
1979 hh |
2355 hh |
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4. Private fruit plantation |
1442 hh |
1950 hh |
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5. Conservation plantation |
40 UG |
96 UG |
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6. Other conservation activities |
113 UG |
203 UG |
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7. Homestead gardening (Total 5482 hh in 10 years) | | |
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8. Agro-forestry (Total 2865 hh in 10 years) | |
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Source: BTRT WM Project, 1995
Community organization is the process by which a community identifies its problems and takes the initiative to solve those problems and thereby improves its living standards by identifying and mobilizing the resources available to it. Peoples' participation is local villagers taking part in development programs which mobilize local skills and resources.
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