ABSTRACT

This paper traces the shift from cotton to rice cultivation in Maswa district which brought about corresponding significant changes in land use. Farmers began to experiment with water harvesting techniques and to adapt them to local conditions, largely replacing cotton as the main cash crop. The remaining high-market value of rice induces farmers to continue to invest in extensive soiland water-conservation (SWC) measures within whole catchment areas to make sure that all water is utilized efficiently by all farmers living in the area.