Agrotechnology

Physical and social factors in management of community owned water storage structures in Gujarat: An institutional analysis of local governance

2^nd International Conference on Agricultural & Horticultural Sciences

Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel, Hyderabad, India February 03-05, 2014

V. C. Pande, G. L. Bagdi and D. R. Sena

Scientific Tracks Abstracts: Agrotechnol

Abstract:

The institutional arrangements for community water management are diverse, varying in their structure, scope and style. Designing policy instruments in respect of community based natural resource (CBNR) management warrants an understanding of the interactions and empirical relationships of factors affecting the interplay of local governance forces. The present study has examined these issues within a CBNR sustainability framework encompassing two components, CBNR financial sustainability and CBNR functionality. Twenty two community owned water storage structures in semi arid tropics of Gujarat were extensively surveyed during 2009-10 and 2010-11. Data collected on social aspects and technical details of structures were empirically examined to understand the interactions. The study reveals that strength of Panchayati Raj Institution (PRI), which manages the community water resource, not only governs the financial strength and functionality of the community resources but PRI success in managing the community source is also affected by the functionality of the community owned resource. Factors such as location and design of community source affect the functionality of community resource which in turn affects the financial sustainability of the PRI in managing the community resource. Further, the strength of the institution in managing the resource is also affected by the representation of the poorer and weaker section of the society who largely depends on the community resource for their livelihood. This calls for policy intervention in scientific planning and designing the community resource apart from strengthening the institution through ensuring proper representation of sections of society directly affected by the community resource.

Biography :

V. C. Pande completed his Ph.D. in Economics from The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, Vadodara. He is working as Senior Scientist at Central Soil & Water Conservation Research & Training Institute, Research Centre, Vasad under Indian Council of Agricultural Research. His area of specialization is natural resource economics, soil and water conservation and watershed management. He has published 16 papers in reputed journals and presented 24 research papers in national and international conferences. He is serving as an editorial board member of a national journal and is in the panel of reviewers of several national and international journals.