On 14 September 2025, a high-level delegation from the Uttar Pradesh Council of Agricultural Research (UPCAR), Lucknow, visited ICRISAT’s watershed project in Tahrauli, Jhansi, covering 40 villages across 28,000 hectares. Led by Dr Sanjay Singh, Director General, UPCAR, the team included senior scientists Dr Parmendra Singh, Dr Rajarshi Kumar Gaur, Dr Abhijeet Gautam, and Dr Himanshu Tiwari.
The primary objective was to understand ICRISAT’s successful water conservation and agroforestry interventions and assess their potential for replication in other drought-prone areas of Uttar Pradesh. Guided by Dr Ramesh Singh, Principal Scientist – Landscape Resource Conservation at ICRISAT, the delegation visited key project sites including a community pond in Nota village, agroforestry fields, and a rejuvenated “Haveli” rainwater harvesting structure in Bhadohkar. Farmers shared how these initiatives have improved groundwater recharge, crop yields, and livestock water availability.
The team also engaged with local Farmer Producer Organizations and Natural Resource Committees. Dr Ashok Shukla showcased modern tools like Time Domain Reflectometry (TDR) and Automated Weather Stations for precision water management. The UPCAR officials commended ICRISAT’s integrated approach and emphasized scaling this model across the state to strengthen climate resilience, improve rural livelihoods, and promote sustainable agriculture.
