AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATION CENTRE www.arccjournals.com Indian J. Agric. Res.., 48 (2) 145-148, 2014 DOI: 10.5958/j.0976-058X.48.2.024 IMPACT OF WATERSHED PROGRAME IN MADHYA PRADESH, INDIA Anil Kulshrestha*, B.P.S. Raghubanshi 1 , S.K. Sen, Avinash Kulshrestha 2 and Y.K. Singh Mahatma Gandhi Chitrakoot Gramodaya Vishwa Vidhyalaya, Chitrakoot- 480 001, India Received: 29-02-2013 Accepted: 11-12-2013 ABSTRACT A study was conducted during 2009-10 to 2010-11 in Budhara watershed in Ambah block of Morena district to assess the impact of watershed programme.Positive and significant effect of watershed progrmme was noticed in the study. Area and productivity of remunerative crops like arhar and wheat significantly increased with a change in arable area, agricultural area, irrigated area, cropping intensity, and area of horticultural crops. However, the cattle population, major and micro soil nutrients and its availability was also increased as well as improved fodder availability. Key words: Watershed programmer. *Corresponding author’s e-mail: anil_kul2009@yahoo.com 1 RVSKVV- Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Morena, 476001, 2 B.R. Ambedkar University, Agra. INTRODUCATION In our country out of 329 million ha of geographical area, 143 million ha is under the cultivation, out of this, 77% of the area is mainly rainfed. However, dry lands contribute 45% of the national grain basket. Basically two approaches are available for rainfed areas to increase food production. First, the rainfed areas have to be brought under the fold of irrigation. Second, by promoting the adoption of new techniques in dry land farming. It is an established fact that conservation of natural resources and their management holds key to sustainable agriculture. In India, the conservation of soil and rainwater, the two basic resources to mankind, have been practiced since ancient times. However, there has been renewed emphasis in the recent past on conservation of these basic resources and their efficient utilization. The watershed management approach has been proved its significance for conservation of these resources and sustainability. Hence the present study was conducted to asses the impact of watershed programme. MATERIALS AND METHODS The study was carried out purposively in Ambah block of Morena district during 2009-10 to 2010-11. There are 6 mini watersheds areas in implantation in Morena district. Out of these, one micro watershed namely Budhara was selected to study the impact of programme and 50 beneficiary farmers from villages come under the area of micro watershed Who were selected randomly for the study who participated in the watershed activities which study was conducted and data regarding area under different crops, productivity, land use pattern, land resources use, major and micro soil nutrients availability and livestock status were collected through interview schedule for the farmers. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION The impact of watershed was studied in terms of changes in area under different crops, productivity, land use pattern, land resources use, changes in major & micro soil nutrients availability, livestock status the results are presented in Tables-1-6. Change in Area: The data presented in Table-1 revealed that total area under crops increased after implementation of watershed programme in the Budhara watershed area. The significant changes were observed in the area of arhar (185.71%) in kharif season while in rabi season positive changes in area of wheat (40.00%) was observed over the period of implementation, whereas, no change occured in the area of mustard. However, a reduction was observed in the area of gram (-26.67%).