SHILLONG: A one-day training programme on post project management of watershed was organized by the District Agriculture Officer, East Khasi Hills, on Tuesday.
The National Watershed Development Project for Rain-fed Areas (NWDPRA) is a Centrally-sponsored Scheme under Macro Management in Agriculture.
Starting from the 8th Plan Period upto the 11th Plan, a total of 78 projects have been initiated in the State, out of which the DAO, East Khasi Hills is implementing 16 projects.
The main objective of the schemes is to deal with the problems of the areas in order to achieve maximum production and productivity of the farming community by using the watershed and greater stress on rainwater conservation to achieve sustainable economic development.
With the implementation of NWDPRA Scheme, farmers in the State would get good opportunity in knowing various programmes to be implemented along with participation with the Government functionaries by fetching good economic returns which would help their upliftment.
Under the NWDPRA programme, infrastructural and technological support is provided by the Agricultural Department to the village institutions and the community along with opportunities to conserve natural resources.
Efficient capacity building and training, sufficient programmes including up – gradation of training skills and identification of training needs are also provided. Poor, landless and disadvantaged sections of the Watershed Societies are given utmost importance by creating productive employment through promotion of small production systems.