The watershed development programme of the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (Icrisat) and a consortium of partners will now be extended to the rainfed regions of the country, according to M S Swaminathan, chairman of the National Commission for Farmers. | |
| Swaminathan, who visited Icrisat campus here on Thursday to take part in a planning workshop, told mediapersons that the road map for the next phase of the watershed project for covering the rainfed areas was currently being prepared. |
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| He had recommended Icrisat approach for integrated watershed management to improve rural livelihoods in drought-prone districts. |
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| According to him, the Icrisat watershed development project was reaching out to the world as a model of integrated genetic and natural resource management (IGNRM). After India, China, Vietnam and Thailand, the model had recently reached East Africa. |
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| Icrisat director general, William Dar, said that the institute's watershed model had become popular since it brought together as a package for rural development the best of expertise available with Icrisat and all the consortium partners. |
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| "While using the micro watershed as a geographical unit for soil and water conservation and management, the impact is strengthened with improved agronomical practices and diversified income generation activities," he added. |
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