The study conducted in Raichur district during 2004-05 to know the socio-economic profile of the participant farmers of watershed development programme and their knowledge level revealed that majority of the respondents were middle aged (75.33%), had education up to high school (28.00%), belonged to nuclear family (62.67%) with semi-medium (72.67%) had medium level of knowledge of soils and water conservation practices.  Majority of respondents possessed the knowledge that the contour cultivation reduces soil erosion and conserve soil moisture (66.00%), followed by controls weeds, pests and disease (62.00%), helps to conserve runoff water and eroded soil (48.67%) and improves soil physical characters (21.37%), respectively.