Farmer-centric integrated watershed management for improving rural livelihoods in Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh and Mahabubnagar, Telangana (RECL-ICRISAT)

Duration:2014 – 2019

Locations: Anantapur (Andhra Pradesh) and Mahabubnagar (Telangana), India

Partners:

1. Rural Electrification Corporation Limited, Hyderabad, Telangana, India
2. Government of Andhra Pradesh
3. Government of Telangana

Summary:

The Rural Electrification Corporation Limited, Hyderabad, Telangana, India has supported the ICRISAT-led consortium to develop “Model Sites of Learning” in Mahabubnagar district in Telangana state and Anantapur district in Andhra Pradesh with an aim to sustainably increase agricultural productivity and improve the livelihoods of the rural poor in vulnerable rain-fed areas. A participatory integrated watershed management approach is one of the tested, sustainable, and eco-friendly options available for upgrading rain-fed agriculture for sustainable intensification. The approach also has additional multiple benefits in terms of improving livelihoods, addressing equity issues, and biodiversity concerns along with the conservation of water and other natural resources. In this context, two potential sites for watershed project were identified in Penukonda Mandal (Gonipeta, Settipalli, Kondampalli, and Cherlopalli villages) in Anantapur district in Andhra Pradesh and Wanaparthy Mandal (Rajapet, Kadakunla, Peddagudem and Mentepalli villages) in Mahabubnagar district in Telangana state with support from the District Water Management Agency (DWMA) and Department of Agriculture officials. Baseline survey has been conducted in both the sites for the watershed project. The overall goal of this initiative is to sustainably increase agricultural productivity and improve the livelihoods of the rural poor in vulnerable rainfed areas through integrated watershed management. The two benchmark locations selected for the project are in Mahabubnagar district of Telangana and Anantapur district of Andhra Pradesh.The specific objectives of the project are:

1. To establish “Model Sites of Learning” in Mahabubnagar and Anantapur districts to harness the potential of rainfed areas by adopting an integrated water resource management approach;
2. To enhance water availability and its (green and blue water) use efficiency in order to diversify livelihood systems in the target villages; and
3. To build the capacity of farmers in the region to improve rural livelihoods through knowledge sharing and dissemination.

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