The International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (Icrisat) today announced that the Asian Development Bank (ADB) would extend $ 1.3 million (Rs 6.17 crore) to support the second phase of the watershed development project being co-ordinated by it.
ADB has taken this decision, following a satisfactory performance of the first phase of the watershed project.
In the first phase, benchmark watersheds were identified and accordingly projects implemented in India, Thailand and Vietnam, an Icrisat press release said here.
More From This Section
In the second phase of the project, which began in January this year and would end in 2005, China has been included as a project country.
The project is being implemented by a consortium of stakeholders -- scientific organisations, agricultural universities, non-governmental organisations and farmers.
Icrisat director-general William Dar said in the release that financial gain for farmers was achieved by concentrating on getting returns in individual farms from soil and water conservation measures.
Once the farmers realised higher productivity from their lands, they came forward to co-operate in creating community assets.
Under the project, strategic partnerships were formed. HP Singh, the director of the Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture (Crida) said: