Odisha targets to complete designing of REWARD project by end of July

Bhubaneswar, June 6: In another step towards enhancing famer’s income in watershed and adjacent areas, Odisha government has initiated steps for putting in place a result-based watershed program titled as Rejuvenating Watershed for Agricultural Resilience through Innovative Development (REWARD).  Various contours of the programme was discussed in a high level meeting held on digital mode under the Chairmanship of Chief Secretary Suresh Chandra Mahapatra  from Lokseba Bhawan recently wherein Secretary Agriculture & Farmers’ Empowerment Suresh Kumar Basistha outlined the issues; and, Pritee Kumar of World Bank with her team presented the proposed intervention and outcome details of the programme.  Outlining the project Basisstha said, “The programme would positively promote resource efficient growth in watershed areas, investment in human capital and developing networks of scientific and technical partners”.  Considering the proposal, Chief Secretary Mahapatra directed to “Focus on enhancing productivity and opening up new sustainable livelihood opportunities for increasing the net income of the farmers. He also directed to treat the watershed and adjacent areas on saturation mode through adoption of new technology and data-driven approaches”.   It was decided to treat around 1.15 lakh hect of land under 152 micro-watershed units in five pilot districts namely Koraput, Nayagarh, Dhenkanal, Deogarh and Sambalpur in the first phase.  Besides, around 4.11 lakh hect of land in seven districts covering about 533 micro-watershed units would be covered both for pilot intervention and intensive agriculture. These seven districts included Nabarangpur and Sundargarh in addition to above five districts. As such, target was set to cover a total of around 5.26 lakh hectors of land spreading over 705 micro-watersheds under the proposed REWARD projects.   The expected ecological outcomes of the project include prevention of soil run-off, regeneration of natural vegetation, rain water harvesting and recharging of the ground water table. This would enable multi-cropping and adoption of diverse agro-based activities for providing sustainable livelihoods to the people in the watershed area.  Chief