Case studies in watershed programme……
Significance of case studies in Watershed programme……
How to plan for case studies of a Successful Intervention in Watershed Management ?
While going for Case studies , it is very important to have an clear cut Understanding of the whole aspects of intervention that has been executed. Let’s move with some specific points
1.What is the crux of the case studies ?
2.What really has to be highlighted?
3. Whether Virtual Visual impacts in text has been Planned ?
4.Whether Proper balance and Continuity in the text has been thought?
5. Whether there is availability of Self explanatory Photographs /visuals?
Why it is important to give much emphasis in way to go for case studies?
We all know right Execution of a Watershed intervention is very important. But the responsibility in Watershed management not stops here. The importance can be further extended , if it is percentage of adaptation is more The replication will, be more if it is rightly perceived. Further adoption of the interventions by farmers is an indicator of real significance of the interventions . So, to get the real significance ,the field execution has to be extended till successful adaptation . This can be made possible through case studies. Quite often it is seen that adoption percentage for a best interventions fails to reach the expectation. The extension of intervention gets limited to only to few nearby areas. why it is so……The experience says one of the possible reasons is farmers knows about many of the interventions like soil and water conservation structure but fails to look the success from Multiple angles i.e fails to understand multiple effects .The impressive and justified case studies with all multiple benefits /impacts is the best means of written communication that can provide a better opportunity for a actual understanding of the interventions. Proper understanding through effective case studies will not only make himself to adopt the interventions but he can find himself in a position to motivate and encourage other to take benefit of the interventions . Often we see and go through many good best practices that give a view how to write. Two things that is important :-
1. Successful executed in field –The interventions should be successful in terms of number of impacts.
2. Effectively written in book- Emphasizing the pre and post scenario in such a way that it give a Virtual pictorial essence in text itself .
Quite often it is seen that some of the success stories just give an idea that earlier there was very poor conditions in village and once Watershed programme has entered in that area ,the things has improved . It is true but it is needed to be provide with stringent facts and figures to achieve the objective of further replication and up scaling.
Lets……… analyze the points that certainly need to be emphasized .
1.Pre Existing Scenario……
The Pre existing scenario i.e status before the interventions of Watershed project has to be explained. While dealing, the pre existing scenario, all the aspects that is to be highlighted in post scenario should be emphasized .
2.Relevance to……
The context of the interventions need to be explained. The relevance for taking up a particular interventions and its objectives need to be explained
3.Issue that triggered this effort………..
The efforts that has been taken up in the form of watershed interventions as an action in reaction to the existing problem has to be justified. There can be many issues that has triggered to have the interventions. All these need to be covered.
4.Methodology Adopted………
A detail of methodology that has been adopted need to be explained .It should cover all the aspects right from planning for the interventions .The detail exercise and discussion that has been done by Watershed development team or project staff with village community has to be nicely explained .This will motivate the other farmers too. It will be wise not to neglect even a small steps in methodology adoption..It is the boost step and will act as power house for the follower .
5. Impact…………
Impact is the back bone of the case studies .A case studies can be called successful if it has more of impacts. So, analyze in 3600 to capture all possible benefits along with main impact. In general it happens that only main effects/impact are taken in to consideration even when there are many other impacts. The reason being, just a surface analyzing the interventions and hence neglecting the other smaller but effective impacts.
6.Level at which it can be best undertaken……………..
After executing a Watershed interventions ,it is important to once again analyze, the level at which it can be best under taken. It can be the case that a particular interventions has been taken up in progressive farmer field Now if it will be executed in marginal farmers field ,it can yield better impacts .
7.Time span…………..
The time span that has been taken in executing the activity has to be mentioned . This way ,any other farmer, if wishes to adopt it, can get an idea of time the intervention takes to get complete.
8.Resource requirements/Process………………..
Likewise , what inputs are required in the whole process right from planning to execution has to be mentioned . It will further enhance the decision of a adopter if he has to plan to execute that particular intervention.
9.Replication & Up scaling
Replication and upscaling is very important for any intervention to be called a success. More the probability and possibility of replication , more will be the significance of the interventions. So, the possible means of replication and upscaling should be mention in the case studies. If it already has been replicated that the site specific example should be given.
10.Knowledge transfer
The knowledge transfer about the interventions need to be emphasized. It has to be mention in case studies that in how many possible ways the knowledge transfer can be facilated. For Example Progressive farmers , Line department, NGO’s, Krishi vigyan Kendra (Agriculture knowledge centre) ,Agriculture Universities and Institute etc. can play a big role in it.
11.Sustainability
One of the indicator for success of any intervention lies in its sustainability . It’s the sustainability that further add the significance of the intervention. So, it is important to incorporate a sustainability model w.r.t the intervention. Quite often it is seen that that till a project is going on in a watershed area , the intervention shows all positive impacts. But fails to sustain once the project is completed. So, all these need to be emphasized.
12.Exposure Visit…
If someone wants to have an Exposure visit to view the site of Watershed intervention to understand the significance or sustainability of the interventions , then the connectivity to the site with approachable road and its distance etc. should be mentioned in the case studies .