Author: Shrutidhar Tripathi
AIT Library Call Number: AIT Thesis no.RD-01-11
Year: 2001
Academic Program: Regional and Rural Development Planning (RRDP)
Type: Thesis (M.Sc.) – Asian Institute of Technology, 2001
Examination Committee: Gopal B. Thapa (Chairperson); Karl E. Weber, Michael A. Zoebisch (Examination Committee Members)
Abstract: Involvement of local institutions has been made mandatory while implementing integrated watershed management programs in Nepal with an expectation that they will be able to carry out project initiated activities sustainably. In this regard, the overall objective of this study was to assess whether project-established local institutions have been able to function effectively after the termination of the projects and as to whether they are operating better than local institutions in other watershed which have not yet got any external assistance. Comparison was done between two mountain watersheds with and without external intervention. Both qualitative and quantitative information were collected through household and institutional survey. A total of 103 households and 23 local institutions in the project and 109 households and 13 local institutions in the non-project watersheds were surveyed. Statistical tests and construction of indices were done to analyze the collected information. The study revealed that there was high resemblance in overall socioeconomic condition that is agriculture dominated with similar kinds agriculture related problems. In the non-project watershed, local institutions were found positively influencing the production systems. Regarding natural resources, based on settlers’ perspective, project watershed was found better in case of forest and soil erosion from farmlands but the other resources such as grazing land, availability of water for irrigation, and land productivity the were found degrading in both watersheds. Regarding local institutions, some were found well structured such as community forest user groups and agricultural cooperatives. Mixed types of results were obtained from the institutional analysis. This showed that in some respect, such as management of forests and farmland, local institutions in the project watershed were functioning better, while in other aspects such as production promotion, dairy farming, local institutions in the non-project watershed were function
Scholarship Donor(s): Danish International Development Assistance
Note: A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science, School of Environment, Resources and Development
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