Enhancing Agro-ecosystem Services through Integrated Watershed Management in Etmadpur Watershed of Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India

The changing climate affects agriculture sector severely especially in developing countries like India. To overcome such impacts, the Government of India has undertaken several adaptation programs, and integrated watershed management program (IWMP) is one of them. Currently, there is limited understanding about the impact of implementing soil and water conservation measures on ecosystem services at micro-watershed level. Therefore, present study was undertaken to enlighten the watershed-level ecosystem services with their economic valuation through a case study of Etmadpur micro-watershed of Agra in Uttar Pradesh, India. The impact evaluation of the watershed intervention was carried out by calculating incremental changes or differences in ecosystem services before and after the watershed development. The results indicated that gully plugging and bench terracing increased the cropped area during winter season by 13% with 80% reduction in fallow lands. Moreover, the watershed interventions led to 10% to 43% increase in crop productivity due to improved irrigation facilities, adoption of recommended package of agricultural practices and augmented soil fertility. In addition, watershed development increased provision of ecosystem services, which improved livelihood security by enhancing employment opportunity, estimated to be Rs. 2,163 ha-1. The results further revealed generation of both marketed and non-marketed ecosystem services, worth Rs. 44,665 ha-1, with a total value of Rs. 226.36 lakhs at the watershed level. Crop production is found to be the foremost ecosystem service, accounting for 72% of the total value of watershed ecosystem services, followed by livestock (14%), carbon sequestration (7%), causal employment (5%), and stored water (2%). Watershed development improved soil health by promoting the use of farm yard manure and increasing green cover, which in turn ensured carbon stock in the soil. The value of carbon sequestered in the soil was found to be of more than Rs. 3,292 ha-1, with a total monetary value of Rs. 16.89 lakhs at the watershed level. Findings of this study suggested that policy makers and practitioners need to consider the issues related to ecosystem services at the micro-watershed level in view of climate variability along with increasing human pressure.