1,220 Projects, 28.5 Lakh Farmers: How India Is Expanding Watershed Development

The Centre is pushing states to accelerate watershed projects under the Watershed Development Component of the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (WDC-PMKSY) 2.0, linking faster execution with the goal of a drought-free India.

Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has urged states and implementing agencies to complete projects within stipulated timelines and focus on measurable improvements rather than expenditure alone. The emphasis is on water availability, irrigation, land productivity, cropping intensity and farmers’ livelihoods.

The programme has achieved substantial scale. Under WDC-PMKSY 2.0, 1,220 projects covering 52.93 lakh hectares have been sanctioned at a total cost of Rs 12,404 crore. Of the Rs 8,134-crore central share, Rs 6,955.75 crore, or 85 per cent, has been released.

Water conservation is central to the effort. The programme has created or revived 1.24 lakh water-harvesting structures, including check dams, nala bunds, percolation tanks, village and farm ponds, trenches, field bunds and reservoirs. These interventions conserve rainwater, recharge groundwater and improve agricultural water availability.

The programme has also provided protective irrigation to 3.08 lakh hectares, helping farmers withstand periods of low rainfall and drought. Nearly 1.40 lakh hectares that earlier produced one crop are now producing two crops, and in some areas three. Greater horticulture, vegetable cultivation and high-value crops are further supporting livelihood diversification.

So far, 28.50 lakh farmers have benefited. Afforestation, horticulture and plantation activities cover 1.45 lakh hectares, while the programme has generated 2.85 crore person-days of employment.

To speed implementation, states have been asked to adopt transparent, technology-enabled, performance-based and people-centric approaches. GIS and remote sensing can improve planning and monitoring, while convergence with other schemes can help achieve saturation in watershed areas.

The government is also seeking stronger community ownership through Watershed Yatra and Watershed Mahotsav, turning conservation into a people’s movement. The objective is to make watershed development a national campaign for water and land security, agricultural resilience and rural prosperity, with outcomes measured in more reliable water, productive farms and stronger rural incomes.