International Journal of Agriculture Extension and Social Development

author(s)
Praveen Jakhar, Indu Rawat, SK Sarangi and Mridula Devi

abstract
Watershed management plays a pivotal role in promoting water conservation, natural resource sustainability, and livelihood security, particularly across India’s diverse and fragile terrains. Integrating gender perspectives into watershed programs is essential for achieving inclusivity and long-term effectiveness. Women, who are central to household and agricultural water management, face disproportionate burdens due to terrain-specific challenges and limited participation in formal decision-making processes. This study taken up in AICRP centres of ICAR-CIWA, Bhubaneswar in collaboration with ICAR-Indian Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Dehradun, examines the role of women in watershed management and its impact on their empowerment. Using an ex-post facto design, data were collected from 1,120 respondents across treated and control watersheds representing 12 agro-ecological regions. Results revealed significant economic and technological gains in watershed villages, with higher average family income (2.5 times) and irrigated area (2.3 ha) compared to controls (0.8 ha). Women in watershed areas also demonstrated greater technology adoption and active participation in certain agricultural decisions, particularly harvest and post-harvest activities, though male dominance persisted in areas such as fertilizer application and irrigation management. The findings further highlighted substantial reductions in women’s drudgery; time spent on collecting water (88.6%), fuelwood (29.6%), and fodder (36.9%) following watershed interventions. The study underscores that empowering women through inclusive, terrain-sensitive watershed management not only enhances gender equity but also strengthens ecological sustainability and rural resilience.