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REWARD Scheme

News: The World Bank has decided to call agricultural officers from Sub-Saharan countries to visit Karnataka to learn from its expertise in implementing the Rejuvenating Watershed for Agricultural Resilience through Innovative Development (REWARD) scheme.

• The project’s goal is to assist national and state organisations in implementing better watershed management techniques to enable farmers be more resilient to climate change and to support greater production and profitability.
• In three to four Indian States, REWARD is being used for six years to avoid soil runoff, regenerate natural vegetation, collect rainwater, and recharge the groundwater table enabling the adoption of various agro-based activities and multi-cropping
• The World Bank has designated Karnataka as a “lighthouse partner” in the creation of the scientific watershed model.
• It is the first State to create a Land Resource Inventory online, which will outline the proper steps to be taken for various types of land in regards to agriculture, groundwater, crops, and soil health. The portal will also include information on the 14 lakh hectares of land covered by the project.

Watershed management

• It involves putting land use and water management techniques into place in order to safeguard and enhance the quality of the water and other natural resources within a watershed.
• Watershed management goals: control of pollution, minimising excessive resource exploitation, storing water, preventing flooding, and monitoring sedimentation, animal protection, Controlling and preventing soil erosion, replenishing groundwater to ensure a consistent flow of water