1. Why it Matters for Best Outcomes

Every farm is part of a larger watershed — the natural bowl through which rainwater flows, gets absorbed, or drains away. Where a farm sits in that watershed (upper slope, middle, or lower catchment) determines its soil moisture, erosion risk, and water availability. Ignoring this natural positioning often leads to crop stress, soil degradation, and inefficient water use. Recognizing and working with the watershed position makes farming more sustainable and less costly.

2. When Location is Favorable

• Farms in the middle or lower parts of a watershed, with good drainage, often enjoy natural moisture retention and fertile soils.

• Farmers here can make the most of gravity-based irrigation, richer soils, and higher productivity with relatively less effort.

• Opportunities for water harvesting (farm ponds, check dams) and soil conservation practices (contour bunding, mulching) are easier to implement with high returns.

3. When Location is Unfavorable

• Upper slope farms often lose topsoil due to erosion, face rapid runoff, and require costly soil conservation measures.

• Marshy or lowest point farms may suffer from waterlogging, salinity, or flooding.

• In both extremes, the farmer must spend more on drainage, bunding, terracing, or reclamation just to keep land usable. Productivity is more vulnerable to weather shocks in such areas.