The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Watershed development programme works wonders in Sivaganga

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Dec 06, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Watershed development programme works wonders in Sivaganga

By Our Staff Reporter

SIVAGANGA, DEC. 5. The watershed development programme initiated and funded by the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) at Kayangulam panchayat in Sivaganga district has changed more than 1000 acres of barren land into cultivable land.

The pilot project was started in 2002 at a cost of Rs. 45 lakhs, with the participation of State Steering Committee, District Rural Development Agency, Sivaganga, Agricultural Engineering Department, to transform the so far unused land into agriculturally usable land by creating water harvesting techniques. The Association of Sarva Seva Farms (ASSFA) was selected as facilitating agency.

About 862 hectares of wasteland, coming under Kayangulam, Kayangulam colony, Mangudi, Nedumangudi, Vanakkaruppu and Kidapurai in Sivaganga block were brought under the watershed development project. 360 owners of the land were also made part of the wasteland development programme.

The programme was divided into five parts namely water harvesting, land developing schemes, women development schemes, human resource development and administration. A watershed committee also formed to oversee the planning, co-ordinating and implementing the schemes. After formation of watershed committee, the land owners were asked to plough their fields on their own to make use of downpour and preparing the land to plant less water consuming crops.

Simultaneously, water harvesting works like revitalisation of tanks, remodelling of ponds, cleaning of feeder channels were taken in a scientific way suggested by water conserving experts. New farm ponds were created in many places to maintain the moisture content in the fields. Bunds of farms were also strengthened to prevent topsoil eroding. New gully plugs were formed in the feeder channels to check the water flow.

After reorganising all 862 hectares, farmers planted long-term crops including mango, cashew, tamarind, `nelli' and `nava' in their respective lands. Short-term crops and fodder items were also sowed to meet out the financial needs. The entire watershed area was covered with natural fences to prevent the entry of cattle into the farmland.

Within the short span of implementing watershed scheme, many farmers started harvesting, besides tasting the fruits of short-term crops. The entire area is covered by green vegetation. More importantly, the confidence of the farmers has increased to great extent by seeing their cultivable land. The project in-charge, P. Thangaiah said the sale of land had come down drastically after the implementation of the programme. The cost of the land had also increased as the land was transformed to cultivable land.

The assistant general manager, NABARD, S. Kannappan said the bank had agreed to implement similar programme in 1200 hectares in Kandani village, after the successful implementation of programme in Kayangulam watershed area.

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