Farmers' behavioural perspective towards soil and water conservation interventions in Salaiyur watershed from semi-arid region of Tamil Nadu

Abstract

The soil and water conservation (SWC) interventions could be more cost effective if they are implemented in participatory mode. To understand which SWC interventions are adopted and maintained by farmers themselves is crucial for improving the watershed management programme. Therefore, to understand the post adoption behaviour (continued- adoption. discontinuance, diffusion and infusion) of farmers' regarding different adopted SWC interventions, a field survey study was conducted during 2013 at Salaiyur watershed programme, which concluded in 2003. The results showed that Technology Continue Adoption Indices (TCAIs) of engineering measures like field bunding, check dam, were found more than 62.5%. However, TCAIs of agronomical interventions were ranged from 50 to 93.3%. The same for vegetative barrier and improved crop varieties was 50.0 and 93.8%, respectively. Extent continued adoption, dis-adoption and diffusion of SWC technologies were 79.6, 20.3, and 13.0%, respectively. This showed moderate to high adoption level by farmers concerning different SWC interventions in the Salaiyur watershed. We found that personal, socio-economic, education and psychological factors were key reasons for continued-adoption of interventions.