The International Crops Research Institute for Semi-Arid Tropics (Icrisat) has claimed that a new watershed management method developed by it will lead to a paradigm shift in water conservation programmes across the country.

Using this method, a village in Bellary could capture an additional 18,500 cubic metres over a period of three years.

Suhas P Wani, Director of Icrisat Development Centre (IDC), said the approach helped the groundwater level rise by 1.5-2 metres. “With soil test-based fertiliser application, the overuse of fertilisers was reduced, which meant a lower cost of cultivation — by 10-15 per cent,” he said.

Icrisat has taken up the initiative with the help of JSW group, an arm of the OP Jindal group. Some of the interventions included building soil and water conservation structures; improved variety of sorghum seeds, green gram (moong bean), pearl millet, pigeonpea and groundnut; soil analysis and micronutrient applications; avenue plantation (to improve green cover and to trap the dust) and agro-forestry.

The initiative covered 7,000 hectares with over 2,000 households in which 1,200 belonged to the farming community. A total of 3,500 farmers benefited from the interventions.

“The yield of groundnut and maize increased by 19 per cent and 27 per cent, respectively. And many new livelihood options led to an increase in the income of households by ₹1,500-₹2,500 a month,” Wani said.

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