Reflections on Sociological and Organizational Factors in Watershed Development

This, the key-note address at a national symposium in India, argues that planners, administrators and scientists working on watershed development are too far removed from the realities of farmers to suggest effective plans and solutions to problems. For effective (and therefore scientific) approaches, people must be central to watershed development. The paper suggests elements of a new government organization structure for watershed development, in which states must play a key role. These are specific to India and administrative structures found there.