Employing Jal Doots (Water volunteers) NABARD plan to launch a massive water conservation campaign in more than one lac villages in vulnerable and water stressed areas in the country. The campaign aims at promoting climate resilient agriculture through community involvement.
NABARD proposes to identify Village Volunteers (Jal Doots) for a localized and more effective approach. These volunteers will increase awareness about various methods of rain water harvesting, efficient water use and related issues.
A similar campaign undertaken last year covered some 40,000 villages and received encouraging response at the field level. The campaign would essentially focus on creating awareness among the rural community about the methods of water conservation, preservation and its efficient utilization at various levels using the modern technologies.
Besides micro irrigation (more crop per drop), traditional water management practices, adopting improved package of agronomic practices, etc would also be employed.
Involvement of bank branches, Govt departments, extension agencies and other stakeholders during the campaign process is expected to give impetus to this initiative. Adequate number of Master Trainers in each State will be identified and professionally trained who will be deployed to run the campaign at district and village level during April to July 2017.
A formal launch of the campaign is scheduled on 22 March 2017, in all the major States through NABARD’s Regional Offices in presence of representatives of the State Govt., State Level Bankers’ Committee (SLBC), Partner NGOs, Agricultural Universities, Water Experts and Farmers’ Club Volunteers.