MAJOR PROGRAMMES OF THE DEPARTMENT

Protection wall - All set and ready to defend against the onslaught of soil erosion

A. State Plan Schemes

1. Soil & Water Conservation In General Areas

This scheme covers the general areas outside those not specifically covered by other packages of schemes of the Department. Its main objective is to reduce soil erosion hazards and land degradation water conservation etc, where individuals/groups 'of farmers are targeted. Activities taken up under this Scheme include terracing and reclamation, erosion control, water conservation and distribution, afforestation,cash/horticulture crops development works water harvesting works, farm ponds etc.

2. Jhum Control Programme

The scheme was implemented since inception of the state. The aims and objectives of the scheme are to wean away the jhummia families from the primitive  and destructive type of cultivation to settled cultivation by providing permanent land for sustainable cultivation with assured irrigation and to protect the barren hill slopes with vegetation such as cash crop/horticultural plantations and afforestation programmes. Due to financial constraint under the State Plan Fund, at present only cash/horticultural crop plantation programmes are being taken up.

3. Improved Jhum/Bun Cultivation Scheme

The Scheme of Improved Jhum/ Bun Cultivation is a new scheme where jhummias are allowed to practice their traditional method of cultivation in one single plot continuously for 3-4 years but with a little modification in which the soil and water conservation practices like graded bunding with safe disposal outlets and grassed waterways will be constructed and necessary inputs like improved seeds and locally available organic manures are provided to them. The upper reaches ofthe hillock will be covered with afforestation plantation, whereas in the middle reaches, horticulture plantation will be taken up and the lower reaches with agricultural development activities
Objectives

1. Prevention of land degradation by adopting multi-diciplinary integrated approach of soil and water conservation practices
2. Improvement of land capability, soil moisture regime and soil-plant-nutrient relationship
3. To improve the social and economic fabrics of the shifting cultivators and ensure productivity on a sustainable basis
4. To intercept surface run-off, provide safe disposal of surface run-off, to encourage sub surface and base flow.

Under this scheme 7(Seven) pilot projects on a pilot basis are being implemented- one each in all the 7 Districts of the State.

4. Watershed Management Programme 

The programme aims for treating the micro watersheds on an integrated approach. The activities include treatment of arable land, non-arable land and drainage lines. Due to fund constraint, the activities have been confined mainly to afforestation, cash/horticultural crop developmental works.

Water harvesting - Storing water for multipurpose uses

B. Centrally Sponsored Schemes.

1. Integrated Wasteland Development Programme (IWDP)

 The scheme is funded by the Department of Land Resources, Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India. The Central Share is 91.66% and the State Share is 8.34%.The Scheme has been implemented since 1999 -2000.
The main objective of the programme is to improve the productivity of wastelands and thereby improve the living standards of the rural poor who own these lands. The development of these wastelands is taken up on a watershed basis. Special emphasis is given to conservation of soil moisture in situ through integrated approach with bottom up planning.

2. Integrated Watershed Management Programme (IWMP)

During 2009-10, the Government of India, Ministry of Rural Development, Department of Land Resources, has approved for treatment of 30,000 hectares in 18 watershed projects of the State. The Central and State share sharing component is in the ratio of 90:10 percent. The main objectives of this programme are as follows:

• To dissipate soil and water erosion and surface run-off
• To harvest/ recycle surface runoff and rainwater
• To enhance soil moisture regime/ water holding capacity
• To promote sub-surface flow, base flow and ground water recharge
• To improve soil health and tilth
• To improve production and productivity
• To promote generation and gainful employment opportunities

3. Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme (AIBP)

This is a Central assistance scheme sponsored by the Ministry of Water Resources. It is in the form of central grant (90 % of the project cost) and the balance cost of the project (10%) as the State's share which is to be arranged by the state government from its own resources. The main thrust of the programme is to increase the area under irrigation thereby increasing the productivity of the area and improving the socio-economic condition of the people.

4. Rashtriya Krishi Vigyan Yojana (RKVY)

The area of focus of this programme is for the development of Rainfed Farming Systems in and outside watershed areas as also integrated development of watershed areas, wastelands, river valleys and for activities relating to enhancement of horticultural production and popularization of micro irrigation systems. The thrust area is to promote regeneration oftopsoil, its health and tilth and to improve soil fertility, crop production, land and water productivity of watershed areas, wasteland, river valleys/valley bottom lands and the eco-system as a whole. The fund is released by the State Agriculture Department for the schemes approved for implementation by the Soil & Water Conservation Department.

Watershed Development Project in Shifting Cultivation Areas (WDPSCA)
The scheme was implemented from the year 1995-96 onwards. It is a 100% Central assistance through the Ministry of Agriculture & Co-operation, Government of India.
The main trust of the project is as follows:

• Protect hill slopes of jhum areas through soil and water conservation measures on a watershed basis.
• Encourage and assist jhummia families to develop jhum land for productive uses with improved cultivation and suitable package of practices leading to settled cultivation.
• Improved socio-economic status of jhummia families through household/land-based activities
• Mitigate ill effects of shifting cultivation by introducing appropriate land use as per land capacity and improved technologies.

D. NABARD Loan- Soil & Water Conservation Scheme Under RIDF

The Department started implementing Scheme under Rural Infrastructure Development Fund - NABARD Loan from the year 2000-2001 onwards.
The basic objective of the scheme is to enhance the productivity of agriculture and its allied activities, thereby improving the socio-economic set up of the people in the rural areas. Besides these, the scheme also envisages to promote sustainable development through conservation and management of soil and water.

E. Soil and Water Conservation in the Catchment of River Kopli

Under Macro-Management Mode of the State Agriculture Department, this is a Centrally sponsored programme under the Ministry of Agriculture, Department of Agriculture & Co-operation, (Natural Resource Management Division). Fund is released directly to the State Agriculture Department and implementation is by the Soil & Water Conservation Department.
Objectives:-

• Prevention of land degradation by adoption of appropriate based soil and water conservation measures on watershed approach.
• Improvement of land capability and moisture regime in the watersheds.
• Promotion of land-use to match land capability.
• Prevention of soil erosion and run off from the watershed to prevent premature siltation of reservoirs.

The selection of the watersheds was based as per the priority list of the watersheds. The Soil and Land Use Survey of India (SLUSI) was engaged in the task of priority delineation and detailed Soil survey of the Kopli Catchment. The watersheds have been prioritized based on the magnitude and criticality of degradation into five categories; viz, Very High, High, Medium, Low and Very Low.

F. Cherrapunji Ecological Project- Restoration of Degraded Lands Under Sohra Plateau

This Project under Special Plan Assistance (SPA) was sanctioned by the Govt. of India during 2010-11. The objective of the Scheme is to enhance Soil moisture/ water regime by the following ways:

• Ameliorate under scarcity during drier months
• Revitilizes water sources
• Eco- restoration
• Identify critical areas for immediate restoration of degraded soil