Watershed development has emerged as a critical policy intervention for sustainable agricultural and rural development in semi-arid regions of India. The Marathwada region of Maharashtra, characterized by erratic rainfall, recurrent droughts, groundwater depletion, and agrarian distress, has been a major focus area for watershed development programmes. The present study examines the impact of watershed development policies on farmers in the Marathwada region, with special reference to changes in landholding patterns, irrigation status, income sources, livelihood security, environmental sustainability, and farmers’ perceptions. The study is based on primary data collected from 150 farmers using a structured interview schedule during 2021–22. Comparative analysis of pre- and post-watershed conditions reveals significant improvements in irrigation coverage, groundwater recharge, crop productivity, income diversification, drinking water availability, and environmental quality. The findings suggest that watershed development policies have positively contributed to socio-economic transformation and livelihood enhancement of farmers in Marathwada, although challenges related to equitable access, sustainability, and institutional support remain. growth.
More et al. (Thu,) studied this question.
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