Micro-Watershed Development Projects

The Watershed is a geographical unit with a common natural drainage outlet. The scope of micro-watershed is up to 500 hectares. According to a recent World Bank report, the rising demand for water along with a further increase in population and economic growth can result in half the demand for water in India being unmet by 2030.

Micro-watershed development can be considered as one of the best programs in the conservation of drought-prone and semi-arid regions of India both in terms of immediate and targeted effects. 

Semi-arid regions receive very less rainfall (<50 cm annually) and are affected by deforestation and desertification.

Micro-watershed projects can prevent unwanted evaporation by increasing the biomass component of the area. The strategies of micro-watershed of development include:

• Restoring the natural resources of water collection like ponds, lakes, etc.

• Building infrastructures like tanks, artificial ponds, check dams, etc. to store the rainwater and increase the moisture level of the soil.

• Improving water use efficiency for agriculture with methods like drip irrigation and sprinkle irrigation.

• Preventing soil erosion, planting trees in the wastelands, groundwater reaching, and conservation of soil moisture. 

• Improving the quality of life of the drought-prone region by the increased availability of water both for drinking and irrigation purposes.

• Increasing the vegetation occur in semi-arid regions by rational utilization of water resources.

Micro-watershed development can result in phenomenal success in regions like Vidarbha, Bundelkhand, & Rajasthan. Micro-watershed development aims for the collection and judicious use of groundwater and surface water to conserve the ecology of the place and use it to sustain agriculture in the future.