NF livelihoods national director Neena Rao said registered farmer societies would manage and run the lift irrigation schemes, both financially and technically.

NF, in 2003, was given 65 lift irrigation schemes. It secured the required funds from Sir Ratan Tata Trust. The foundation will encourage the farmers for new cropping patterns and switch to 2-3 crop cycles per year as against one.

In all, NF will be involved in making about 60,000 acre drought-prone land into cultivable land through lift irrigation revivals.