Changing Attitude of Farmers to Ravine Problems in Chambal Command

Abstract

Ravines pose two problems. The first is the problpm of bringing several million acres of ravaged areas back to productive use and the second is providing adequate safeguard to the adjoining agricultural fields. Both of these tasks are important in view of the increasing demand for food in the country. Provision of hugefinance for the purpose, presents a baffing question before the country. The situation suggests alternative system for tackling ravine problems. As such, the need for self generating and self perpetuating programme of ravine control is rather an ideal necessity that has to be sought in view of vastnesss of the problem on the one hand and the limited resources of the country on the other.

Study conducted by the authors in some of the villages around, Kota, has indicated a perceptible change in the attitude of the farmers that opens up an interesting possibility to meet the above objective.

Traditional attitude of the farmers, the reasons thereof, indication of change in their attitude, the motivating force and the need for accelerating the process of change have been highlighted in the discussion.