Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Traditional watershed management focuses primarily on soil and water conservation.
To enhance rural income and generate employment, modern approaches incorporate bio-industrial activities, integrating conservation with agricultural processing and value addition.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
The concept of a "bio-industrial watershed" was proposed by Prof. M. S. Swaminathan, the pioneer of the Green Revolution in India.
He envisioned that conserving soil and water should not be the end goal; instead, it should serve as the foundation for rural micro-enterprises and agro-processing industries.
In a bio-industrial watershed:
- Water conservation is linked to high-value horticulture, aquaculture, and livestock farming.
- Biomass generated in the watershed is processed locally to produce biopesticides, biofertilizers, and value-added food products.
- This approach transforms subsistence watershed activities into commercially viable, sustainable ecosystems.
The other options represent different pioneers:
- Prof. J. S. Bali is known for his extensive work in soil conservation and land use planning.
- Prof. K. Subramanya is a prominent academic author in open channel flow and fluid mechanics.
- Prof. H. H. Bennett is regarded as the father of soil conservation in the United States.
Step 3: Final Answer:
The bio-industrial watershed concept was proposed by Prof. M. S. Swaminathan.