1 Integrated Natural Resource Development for Sustainable Growth, Food Security & Poverty Alleviation in Rain-fed Areas Issues for Policy & Action A Presentation by PRADAN

2 Context: The Rain-fed Regions 60% of Country’s NSA (~85 m Ha) Typically, UHM ( undulating, hilly & mountainous ) Cereal-based, Monsoon Dependent, Mono- cropped Farming System –Highly Vulnerable; Unstable/Unsustainable Low Inputs, Yields, Outputs & Incomes –Yields 1/3rd of country average; Value ~Rs 7,000/Ha Low Capital Investment, Poor Husbandry, Resource Degradation Little Scope for Large & Medium Irrigation Huge Ecological Variation, Locally & Globally –Within Villages/Micro-watersheds; Across Regions

3 Context: The Rain-fed Regions Poorest States/Regions –A Majority of 100 Poorest Districts Distinctly More Rural – 80% to 90% Home to Almost All the Scheduled Tribes Most Food Insecure (3 to 9 months) High Involuntary Migration High Consumption-related Indebtedness –Often Leads to Land Alienation

4 Determinants of Policy & Action UHM Terrain Ecologically “Connected” –Need Integrated NRM with Watershed Approach –Need to Plan & Act Across Large Area/Basin –Need to Broaden Participation; Build Institutions; Integrate PRI Main Source of Livelihoods; Privately Owned –Need to Integrate Livelihoods & Productivity with Conservation –Plan to Maximize “Sustainable Livelihoods” Huge Ecological Diversity –Need for Diversified Farming Systems –Flexible Programming –Integrate “Micro” with “Macro” at All Levels –Cross-Sectoral Integration

5 Determinants of Policy & Action Low Productivity, Mass Poverty, Capital Erosion, Subsistence-centered Economy –Need Larger Investments (Rs 15 to 25,000 /Ha or /Family) –Need Longer Planning Horizons (7 Yrs+) –Need to Assign Key Role to Women in Planning & Action –Need a “Deliberate”/Interactive Planning Process (“contra-extension”) –Need Infusion of Quality Human Resources (sensitivity & creativity) –Need to Invest in (People’s) Capacity Building

6 Determinants of Policy & Action Limited Experience But Isolated “Success Stories” –Need to Systematically Create Scale Demonstration –Need to Build & Consolidate Process Know-How –Need to Develop Benchmarks Sectorally Fragmented Administration –Seed New Institutional Mechanisms Limited Human Resources –Need to Document Processes –Need to Develop Education & Training Materials –Need to Institute Training/Education Programmes

7 Way Forward Carefully Designed Pilots –An Intensive Rain-fed Area Development Pilot (IRDAP) –At Least One in Each Sub-Agro-Ecological Region –In all, 25 Sites of 5,000 to 10,000 Ha or Families –Total Investment Rs 250 to 500 crore in Seven Years –8 to 10 NGOs Selected for Experience, Field Presence, & Good Internal Systems & Governance –Unified Funding & Management –Broad Design Parameters; Outcome Focused –Systematic Documentation, Monitoring & Review A Long-Term Vision Needed for Development of Rain-fed Regions as the Arena for Future Growth

8 Outputs of the Pilot Know-How for INRM in Rain-fed Regions Knowledge for Education, Training & Policy Development Know-How for Scaling Up Training Sites for Personnel for Expansion Nuclei for Institution-Building for Expansion Benchmarks for Inputs, Outputs and Outcomes

9 Plantation Sabai + 30X40 Gully plugging 5% + WHS Seepage tank Kharif paddy growing area Integrated NRM in AEZ VII: An Example

10 Problems in Implementing Watershed Programmes PRADAN’s Experience Whimsical Selection of NGOs –Often No Consideration for Experience, Present Base Fragmented Implementation; No Perspective –District Targets Distributed Across Blocks (2’s & 3’s) Delayed & Highly Uncertain Fund Flow –Unrelated to Plans; Merely Ration Available Funds; March Bias –No Project Completed in Jharkhand; Many Closed Arbitrary Allocation/Cancellation –Large Number of Projects Withdrawn Arbitrarily Corruption –At Dealing Level; Among Auditors! Tensions with Forest Department