ABSTRACT
Land, water, and vegetation are the natural resources, which provide food, feed, fiber, and fuel needs for the survival of human beings. However, the growing biotic pressure and overexploitation of the natural resources are leading to their accelerated degradation, resulting in reduced productivity. The sustainable management of natural resources is the key for the sustenance and well-being of human beings. Water is a finite resource and an elixir of life; however, water is becoming scarce due its overexploitation to meet the demands of the ever increasing demographic pressure. Agriculture is a major consumer (75-80%) of water for food production globally. For meeting the food demand of the growing global population by 2025, it is estimated that additional 2000 km3 water will be required with the current practices of food production (Falkenmark 1986). An integrated approach to rainwater management is necessary, where the links are addressed between investments and risk reduction, between land, water, and crop, and between rainwater management and multiple livelihood strategies. The conservation linked development of vital natural resources on a sustained basis without impairing its productivity for the future generation is the need of the hour. In this context, watershed scale becomes very effective and handy to manage water and land resources effectively, particularly in the drought-prone rainfed areas, which are the hot-spots of poverty, malnutrition, and water scarcity and are prone to severe land degradation (Wani et al., 2003a, 2009; Rockström et al., 2007, 2009, 2010). For sustainable development of rainfed agriculture in tropical Asia and Africa, small catchment or watershed management approach is recommended for the sustainable development and to achieve food security through enhanced green water (rainwater stored as soil moisture) and blue water (runoff water harvested in tanks and groundwater) use efficiency (Wani et al., 2002, 2009; Rockström et al., 2007, 2010).
