Australian project to improve water, land resources in S Asia

Australian researchers will be working with their counterparts in South Asia, including India, to help farmers boost farm output by making efficient use of ground and surface water during the dry summer months.
The four-year Rs 12.37 crore project to be implemented in India, Nepal and Bangladesh will be funded by the Australian government agency Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR), an official statement said.
Australian High Commissioner to India, Patrick Suckling, said the project aimed to help the people in region improve their livelihoods through more productive farming.
"I am happy that ACIAR is leading a project in collaboration with agencies in India, Nepal and Bangladesh that aims to improve livelihood opportunities. The project will benefit women and landless farmers through research to help introduce new technologies to manage water resources," he said in a statement.

"The initiative should help in the efficient use of ground and surface water for irrigation and help boost agriculture productivity during the dry summer months."
In India, the project will help improve agriculture productivity in the Eastern Gangetic plains, including in Bihar and West Bengal, through more efficient land and water resources management.
ACIAR is the Australian government agency that encourages Australian scientists and institutions to use their skills to develop solutions to agricultural problems in countries.
The project is being launched by the Australian Ambassador to Nepal at a workshop in Kathmandu today.