Report of the Working Group on Watershed Development, Rainfed Farming and Natural Resource Management for the Tenth Five Year Plan (2002-2007)

Abstract

The Report of the Working Group on Watershed Development, Rainfed Farming, and Natural Resource Management for the Tenth Five Year Plan (2002–2007) presents a comprehensive framework to enhance sustainable development in India’s rural and rainfed regions. Constituted by the Planning Commission under the chairmanship of Shri J.C. Pant, the Working Group reviewed ongoing schemes of the Ministries of Agriculture, Rural Development, and Environment & Forests, with a focus on watershed-based natural resource management. The report emphasizes the interdependence of water, land, vegetation, and animal resources in shaping rural livelihoods and highlights the urgent need to address degradation in rainfed areas. Key strategies include rainwater conservation, sub-surface water recharge, soil and biomass management, ecological restoration, and promotion of indigenous knowledge and practices. The report underscores the importance of sustainable agriculture as a tool for poverty alleviation, integrating the mandates of different ministries to improve food, fodder, and energy security while conserving biodiversity. Watershed development is advocated as a holistic approach, emphasizing small-scale, community-driven interventions, such as pond-bunds, gabion-supported drainage lines, and dug wells, to enhance groundwater recharge and prevent soil erosion. The Working Group proposes a perspective plan covering 88.5 million hectares over multiple Five Year Plans, with a shift from conventional runoff disposal to rainwater harvesting and ecological restoration. The report highlights the critical need for coordinated planning, technology adoption, and institutional support, while recognizing the ecological foundations necessary for equitable and sustainable economic development across India.