Bhubaneswar: The outcomes of the climate change projects taken up under National Adaptation Fund For Climate Change ( NAFCC) in Nuapada district has been found quite rewarding for the people. People have accepted the project and have participated in it as it has been helpful in their livelihood activities. The senior officers of NABARD after field visit have expressed satisfaction over interim outcomes of the projects under implementation.
This was known from a high level review of the NAFCC projects taken by chief secretary Asit Tripathy, here on Thursday. The principal secretary water resources Surendra Kumar outlined the technical and financial details of the projects for discussion.
Reviewing progress of the projects, chief secretary Tripathy directed to condense incubation period of the projects through close monitoring of implementation at the ground level. It was decided in the meeting that one workshop would be held involving various departments to formulate similar projects as per the climate change action plan of Odisha. Tripathy also asked NABARD to make an objective assessment of the project outcomes and suggest measures for making those self-sustaining.
Discussions in the meeting show that the project has been started in eight villages of Budhipalli, Palasabhadar, Porkod, Amlidadar, Bhusudi, Bhainsatal, Boloda and Jangula in Nuapada district. The project aims at conserving water through the management of run-off in the river basin for reducing vulnerability and enhancing traditional livelihood. The target of the project is conservation of water & and soil moisture and creation of new means of livelihood.
So far, five check dams have been constructed over Kharkharanalah both under State and NAFCC funding. Six numbers of PaniPanchayats have been formed involving the local farmers for irrigation planning. Around 400 farmers have adopted crop diversification methods by shifting from only paddy culture to horticulture. Fishery activities have started in 16 tanks. Around 32 numbers of farmer interest groups and 2 number of farmer income groups been formed. The farmers are being imparted training on crop diversification and sell of their products. Organic farming has been started by 400 households. Around 93 landless beneficiaries have been identified under support under goattery, poultry and duckery. Because of the project, the ground water level has increased in the nearby villages.
The meeting decided to use and popularize drip and sprinkler irrigation system in command area of the check dams. Solar power water pumps would be used for irrigating 236 hectors of upland agricultural field. A new scientific farm pond complex would be developed for fishery. This complex would have 12 ponds for growing the fishes of different size
The principal secretary agriculture & farmers empowerment Saurabh Garag, principal secretary finance Ashok Meena, chief engineer minor irrigation Saroj Pattnaik, project officer Laxmikanta Tripathy along with senior officers from NABARD and concerned departments participated in the discussions.
