Impact of an irrigation project on fertility and contraceptive behaviour in rural Maharashtra, India

Dewaram A. Nagdeve, International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS)

The present paper is an attempt to study the effects of an irrigation project on fertility and contraceptive behaviour in rural Maharashtra. The data has been collected from two irrigated and two non-irrigated villages in Bhandara district. The complete enumeration of villages has been done. The research was designed as combination of matched perspective and case control studies. Anthropological approach was used for collection of extensive information. The chi-square test is used for examining the significance of irrigation project on fertility behaviour. It is revealed from analysis that irrigation project has change fertility and contraceptive behaviour of the population in irrigated area. Female sterilization found to be mostly known method followed by condom, pill and male sterilization. The paper concludes with some population policy reflections and emphasizes the potential importance of rural development related irrigation project on fertility and contraceptive behaviour in irrigated area and negative consequences in non-irrigated area.