Includes bibliographical references.

Water is an indispensable component for every living creature. In order to meet the growing food demand and depleting water level, there is a need to harvest and optimize the use of water. The study examines the economic impact of micro rainwater harvesting structures on the livelihoods of farm households in Meghalaya, where 80 percent of the people depend on agriculture. Despite being the wettest place on Earth, Meghalaya experiences water shortages during the post-monsoon period, which coincides with the rabi season. Constructing rainwater harvesting structures can help conserve water and provide a sustainable source for farming and other activities during this period. The objectives of the study were as follows: (1) to investigate changes in farm diversification resulting from the adoption of micro rainwater harvesting structures, (2) to assess the impact of these structures on the income and employment of adopters, and (3) to identify the constraints faced in adopting micro rainwater harvesting structures. The study was conducted in the East Khasi Hills and Ri-Bhoi districts of Meghalaya, selected due to their high number of beneficiaries. Respondents were selected using random sampling from clusters of 3-5 villages in each block, based on beneficiaries of various micro rainwater harvesting schemes in the state. Analytical tools such as the Simpson Diversity Index, multiple linear regression analysis, two sample independent t-test, and Garrett ranking technique were employed to achieve the study's objectives. The results indicated that adopters of micro rainwater harvesting structures (area DI: 0.676, income DI: 0.689) showed higher diversity in terms of farm area and income compared to non adopters (area DI: 0.544, income DI: 0.57). The adoption of jalkunds (a type of rainwater harvesting structure) played a significant role in influencing crop diversification, and younger generations were more willing to take risks by adopting crop diversification practices. Adopters of jalkunds also experienced significant improvements in income and employment compared to non-adopters. Variables such as Jalkund adoption, land holding and cropping intensity had a positive and significant influence on farm income and variables like land holding and Jalkund adoption had a positive and significant influence on employment. The main constraint reported in adopting micro rainwater harvesting structures was the selection of suitable topography, and lack of proper outlet in the silpaulin sheet was the primary reason cited by adopters. Lack of awareness about such technology and need for government support were the reason stated for not adopting the technology. Based on the findings, it can be concluded that jalkunds enhance income and generate employment at the farm level. Therefore, the study recommends that there is a need for increased awareness programs and government led demonstrations to educate farmers about the benefits of micro rainwater harvesting structures.