Our Gram Seva Project area received a visit from the President and COO of the SBI Foundation on March 20th. He visited many of the area development programs and in Basapur Village inaugurated the Raita Bandhu – Watershed Initiative Project. During the ceremony, the newly purchased JCB Excavator key was handed over to mark the occasion. The program aims to create watershed structures for small and marginal farmers, providing them with more irrigation facilities to increase their agricultural income.
The project area is located in Mundargi Taluk in Gadag District, which receives only 590mm of rainfall annually, mostly in heavy downpours. Approximately 80% of the area is covered in black cotton soil, which does not support borewell drilling. Therefore, farmers rely on farm ponds and bunding to save the rain water and encourage water to permeate into the soil and prevent runoff erosion.
To assist farmers who cannot afford the commercial rates of hiring an excavator, the SBI Foundation funded the purchase of a JCB excavator, which will be available for hire at a subsidized rate.
This initiative will enable farmers to construct much-needed watershed structures, leading to more effective irrigation and sustainable farming practices, ultimately resulting in increased crop yields.
Our project is ready to begin and we will be working in the Gram Seva Project area.
Our intention is to do works for minimum 145 farmers in the first year of operation. Bunds are created across the farm lands to hold the rush of heavy rains in place. Otherwise the water will all wash away taking the precious topsoil with it. These bunds are usually needed to be redone approximately each three years.
