Indian Council of Agricultural Research’s (ICAR) impact evaluation studies reveal that watershed-based interventions have led to increase in groundwater recharge, number of wells and water bodies and enhancement of cropping intensity in India. The study was based on remote sensing techniques. It has also brought about changes in cropping patterns leading to higher yields and reduction in soil losses.
ICAR has developed technology modules in dryland farming for various agro-climatic zones. Eighteen model watershed projects covering different agro-ecological regions of the country have been assigned to Central Soil and Water Conservation Research and Training Institute (CSWCRTI) and ICRISAT to address the bio-physical and socio-economic dimensions of specific agro-climatic conditions and to develop suitable technologies for maximizing the development process under watershed programmes.
These projects are to serve as model projects for replicating successful technologies for wider dissemination through National Watershed Development Project for Rain-fed Areas (NWDPRA) and other national and state level funded watershed projects.In India, of the total cultivated area of around 140.30 million hectares only 60.86 million is irrigated and remaining 79.44 million hectares is rain-fed.