NABARD partners with NGOs

The campaign by National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) to promote water conservation has yielded result with water conservation structures coming up in 600 villages in the erstwhile Karimnagar district.

As part of the campaign taken up from May 1 to June 8, the NABARD had ensured that a total of 3,125 soak pits were constructed in households, 480 farm ponds were constructed in the fields and 82 open wells were deepened and recharged.

Farmer motivation

The campaign also saw 1810 farmers apply for drip irrigation system for conservation of water. The farmers were motivated to shift the silt from the minor irrigation tanks to their fields and thereby increase moisture in 176 acres. Further, farmers were helped take up diversification of crops in 420 acres to save water.

The NABARD had appointed 600 “Jal Dhooths” for all the 600 villages with the support of NGOs and motivated the villagers to take up water conservation programme throughout the summer season and were successful.

Capacity building

The NABARD ensured that the Jal Dhoots conducted rallies in the villages and distributed pamphlets and erected posters educating the farmers to conserve water. The farmers were motivated to save five forms of water — rain water, surface water, soil moisture, groundwater and waste water — NABARD Assistant General Manager Ravi Babu said.

Besides, educating the farmers about the benefits of taking up rain water harvesting structures, the campaign aimed at motivating the farmers to go for diversification of crops to consume less water by taking up cultivation of ID crops.