Page 72 - GIZ CAFRI Report

NAFCC

Tamil Nadu (2/2)

Name of the Project: : Climate Proong of Rain-fed Watersheds in Salem
& Virudhunagar Districts of Tamil Nadu
Project Focus: Watershed Management
Location: Attur, Gangavalli & alaivasal blocks in Salem district;
Sivakasi, Srivilliputhur & iruchuli blocks in Virudhunagar district
Project Finance: Rs. 23.80 Crores (USD 3.57 million)
Duration: 4 years (2019-2023); Ongoing
Name of Executing Entity: Tamil Nadu Watershed Development Agency
(TAWDEVA), Govt. of Tamil Nadu
Project Beneciaries: 27,500 beneciaries in Attur and alaivasal blocks
of Salem district and 9000 beneciaries in Sivakasi block of Virudhunagar
district.

Project Area: Agriculture is a predominant sector in Tamil Nadu’s economy, engaging more than 70 percent of
the population for their livelihood. However, only 22 percent of income comes from agriculture and allied
sectors. e total cultivated area in the State is 6.5 million hectares with 8.1 million operational land holders
having average farm size of 1.15 hectares. As Tamil Nadu gets its major share of rainfall during northeast
monsoon, the dryland cultivation is mainly practiced during this
season. Maximum temperature projections for the districts of Salem and
Virudhunagar indicate an increase of about 1.2 – 3.2°C and minimum
temperature projections for the districts indicate an increase of about
0.85 – 3.6°C, over the next 50 years.

e growth of the agriculture sector in
the State is constrained by many
factors including the occurrence of
frequent and recurrent
hydro-meteorological events such as
droughts, extreme rainfall events and
cyclones, reduced availability of water,
declining cropped area, deterioration
in soil health due to depletion of
topsoil and decline in organic carbon
content, decrease in cropping intensity
and shortage of labor force. e
project aims to adapt to the adverse
impacts of climate change through soil Drainage line
and water conservation and to ensure deterioration
sustainable livelihoods through
promotion of crop diversication and
alternate livelihoods in selected
watersheds of Selam and Virudhunagar Dried ponds
districts.

72
Climate Change Interventions of
NABARD – A Glimpse