A three-days Training programme on Rain Water Harvesting and Watershed Managemen was organised by School of Agriculture, Indira Gandhi National Open University, New Delhi through its Regional Centre, Kohima (Nagaland) at Kohima, Nagaland from 26th to 28th September 2007.

Objectives of the Programme

i. To generate awareness about the importance of sustainable development and maintenance of natural resource on watershed basis.

ii. To introduce the principles of the watershed management and rain water harvesting.

iii. To delineate different techniques for assessing and predicting physical, chemical. biological and socioeconomic conditions within a watershed including water quality.

iv. To develop human resource in rain water harvesting and watershed development/management.

v. Mobilisation and capacity building of rural youth, women and landless people.

vi. To generate awareness about socio-economic aspects associated with watershed management.

A total of 40 farmers participated in the programme. During this three days, the pertinent aspects of watershed development/management like Background, Scope, concept and importance of watershed management, introduction to soil, soil erosion and its management, rainwater harvesting and its methods, indigenous technologies for rainwater harvesting, rainwater conservation and its efficient utilization, animal husbandry & poultry production, application of new Technologies, different agricultural and horticultural practices, agro-forestry, fish farming, people participation, introduction to agriculture mechanization were dealt in detail by various subject matter specialist/ experts. The resource persons/ subject matter specialist from ICAR, State Agriculture Department, KVK etc. were drawn who deliberated on these topics.

Feedback from participant

Feedback about the programme revealed that the training programme was useful to them and they had gained technical skills from this programme which can utilized for improving their existing agricultural/horticultural practices and soil and water conservation practices that ultimately improve then the socio-economic status. Some of the participants also expressed that they have gained knowledge regarding new scientific techniques used in rainwater harvesting, soil conservation, poultry/pig /fish farming etc. that can improve the rain water harvesting and watershed management.

Impact Analysis of the Programme

The farmers were evaluated by testing their basic knowledge in rain water harvesting and watershed development/Management prior to the programme (Pre-test) and after the completion of the training programme (Post-test). The questionnaire was developed and used for pre-test consisted of 20 objective type questions on various aspects of the training programme. Most of the candidates had scored 3 to 10 marks in the pre-test. Same questionnaire was used for post-test. Most of the candidates had scored 11 to 19 marks in the post-test. The result revealed that the training had significant impact in improving their knowledge and skills.