NABARD to set up fund to promote watersheds

HYDERABAD: With a view to bring awareness among farming community on conservation and management of water resources in the watersheds, the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) is all set to implement a ‘Community-managed hydrological monitoring and water management programme’ in the state.Nabard chief general manager P Mohanaiah signed a memorandum of agreement with the representatives of the Foundation for Ecological Security (FES) set up by the Gujarat-based National Dairy Development Board here on Thursday.According to Mohanaiah, Nabard has sanctioned a grant of Rs 3.77 crore for the project and the programme will be implemented over the next five years.The objective is to involve the watershed community in understanding and monitoring the changes that take place due to watershed development to adopt suitable cropping system and water management practices.Further, the bank has also decided to set up a separate fund called 'Watershed Development Fund' as part of its developmental initiatives to propagate watershed development through involvement of village- level institutions like watershed development committees.