Status, options and challenges in soil and water conservation in Bhutan : an implication for sustainable land management | |
| Author | Rinzin, Chhimi |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no.NR-08-17 |
| Subject(s) | Soil conservation--Bhutan Water conservation--Bhutan Land degradation--Bhutan |
| Note | A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master in Science in Natural Resources Management, School of Environment, Resources and Development |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Series Statement | Thesis ; no. NR-08-17 |
| Abstract | The study was conducted to assess soil and water conservation works initiated by the Ministry of Agriculture to combat land degradation problems in Bhutan. The study primarily focused on understanding the extent of land degradation problems, status of on-farm SWC, and underlying factors that affected farmers' decision to adopt the technologies. The study was also aimed at identifying qualitative values of SWC technologies, and lastly to assess the sustainability of SWC technologies under the SLM pillars - productivity, acceptability, viability, security and protection. The study conclusively indicated that land degradation is a problem in all the study sites. Intensity of degradations on the fields that had SWC technologies is less intense compared to those fields that did not have. It was also found 34.6% of the test - farmers have expanded and while 31.8% of non - test farmers have adopted SWC technologies. While there were no evidence to suggest that SWC technologies had contributed towards improvement of soil fertility, crop productivity, crop diversification, and household income, it had nonetheless positively checked soil erosions. It had also reduced dependency on forest resources for fodder and consequently saved on labour resources. These were qualitative values of SWC technologies that had acted as trigger to most farmers for expansion and adoptions. However there were also other factors such as institutional and incentives support that affected expansion and adoptions. Except for productivity, current SWC initiatives are seen as sustainable. |
| Year | 2008 |
| Corresponding Series Added Entry | Asian Institute of Technology. Thesis ; no. NR-08-17 |
| Type | Thesis |
| School | School of Environment, Resources, and Development (SERD) |
| Department | Department of Development and Sustainability (DDS) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Natural Resources Management (NRM) |
| Chairperson(s) | Shrestha, Rajendra Prasad |
| Examination Committee(s) | Shivakoti, Ganesh P.;Ranamukhaarachchi, S.L. |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | Department of Agriculture Ministry of Agriculture Royal Government of Bhutan |
| Degree | Thesis (M.Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2008 |