The Watershed Development Project

The Watershed Development Project, funded by the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), is being implemented by Chotanagpur Craft Development Society (CCDS) in Bhandra Block of Lohardaga District, Jharkhand. The project aims to conserve natural resources, enhance water availability, improve soil health, and strengthen the livelihoods of rural farming communities through sustainable watershed management practices.

The project adopts an integrated approach to soil and water conservation by promoting activities such as rainwater harvesting, watershed treatment, plantation, land development, moisture conservation, and community participation. These interventions have contributed to reducing soil erosion, improving groundwater recharge, increasing agricultural productivity, and building climate-resilient farming systems.

Alongside natural resource management, the project supports farmers through capacity-building programmes, awareness campaigns, and the promotion of sustainable agricultural practices. The active involvement of local communities has strengthened the long-term sustainability of watershed assets and encouraged the efficient use of land and water resources.

The Watershed Development Project continues to make a significant contribution to environmental conservation, improved farm productivity, livelihood enhancement, and the overall socio-economic development of rural households in the project area.