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All Paths Lead to Rain: Explaining why Watershed Development in India Does Not Alleviate the Experience of Water Scarcity

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  • Zareen Pervez Bharucha
  • David Smith
  • Jules Pretty

Abstract

Watershed development (WSD) projects in India are key to meeting a range of human development goals in rain-fed agrarian landscapes. However, outcomes are often observed to be partial and short-lived. We offer a novel perspective on the reasons. Our analysis shows that the dominant 'water narratives' of WSD policy and practice and the lived experience of local people contribute to a naturalisation of water scarcity, resulting in widespread views that WSD is primarily a means for increasing irrigation water supply. We show how this over-simplifies the complex problem of agricultural water use and perversely contributes to a continuing experience of water scarcity rather than its resolution.

Suggested Citation

  • Zareen Pervez Bharucha & David Smith & Jules Pretty, 2014. "All Paths Lead to Rain: Explaining why Watershed Development in India Does Not Alleviate the Experience of Water Scarcity," Journal of Development Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 50(9), pages 1209-1225, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:jdevst:v:50:y:2014:i:9:p:1209-1225
    DOI: 10.1080/00220388.2014.928699
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Kerr, John & George, P.J. & Pangare, Ganesh & Pangare, Vasudha Lokur, 2000. "An evaluation of dryland watershed development projects in India:," EPTD discussion papers 68, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    2. Bouma, Jetske, 2006. "The possibilities for dryland crop yield improvement in India's semi-arid regions: observations from the field," IWMI Working Papers H038824, International Water Management Institute.
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