Changes in Livelihood and Utilization Pattern of Farm Pond Owners in Drought Regions of Maharashtra, India

The study aimed to assess the impact of farm pond adoption on the livelihood of beneficiaries in drought-prone regions of Maharashtra, India during 2022-23. Data from 160 beneficiaries and 160 non-beneficiaries were collected through semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions, and published sources and data were analysed, The results shows that a significant increase in various aspects of beneficiary activities, including the utilization of women's productive time (MS 0.43 to 2.47), the regular employment generation index (MS 81.54 to 151.04), the livestock composition index (MS 1.46 to 2.39), the enterprises cost-effectiveness index (MS 17.27 to 48.83), the cultivated land utilization index (MS 0.22 to 0.67), and the irrigability index (MS 2.17 to 16.88). In terms of investment, horticultural crops received the highest allocation (MS 401) followed by animal husbandry (MS 360) and agricultural crops (MS 236). Farm pond income was predominantly directed toward purchasing farm inputs (56.88 %), with a smaller portion allocated to equipment (18.13%) and the least to non-agricultural businesses (1.25 %). Overall, the findings showed a significant improvement in the livelihood component of farm pond owners (MS 84.09), with the employment component exhibiting the highest mean score of 81.33, followed by the economic component (MS 75.97). These findings underscore the transformative potential of farm pond adoption in drought-prone regions, as it enhances livelihoods, empowers gender roles, and promotes diversified and sustainable agricultural practices within the locale of the study.