On 8 October 2025, Mr Nitin Khade, IAS, Joint Secretary, Watershed Management, and Mr CP Reddy, Senior Additional Commissioner, Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India, visited the key Watershed project sites in Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh. The project is a partnership between ICRISAT, the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY), and the Government of Uttar Pradesh (GoUP). The visit aimed to evaluate the impact of integrated watershed management on groundwater recharge, agricultural productivity, and rural livelihoods.
The officials witnessed the revitalization of traditional water-harvesting haveli systems at the Bhadokhar Haveli in the Tahrauli cluster. They symbolically participated in releasing stored rainwater to support cultivation. Farmers attested to enhanced water availability, better crop yields, and improved incomes due to ICRISAT’s interventions.
At Sutta village, the delegation reviewed long-term sustainability outcomes of watershed work completed in 2022. Officials commended the model for its effectiveness in stream rejuvenation and rural water security, emphasizing its replicability across India.
The team also interacted with the local Natural Resource Management (NRM) and Farmer Producer Organization (FPO) leaders, who shared stories of agricultural transformation in previously water-stressed areas.
