Jeevika Project of Udhampur conferred National Award in water conservation
12-November-2020

Jeevika Project, the unique initiative conceptualized by District Development Commissioner, Udhampur Dr Piyush Singla with a multipronged strategy for enhancing water usage efficiency and aiming at generating sustainable livelihood for farmers in the District, has bagged best District National Water Conservation Award.

The award was virtually presented by Vice President of India, M Venkaiah Naidu during the second National Water Awards ceremony, organized by Ministry of Jal Shakti Department of Water Resources River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation, Government of India. On the occasion, DDC said that this award will go a long way in strengthening district activities in this sector.

The project was launched in Udhampur district in order to increase the assured irrigation of Agriculture land and conservation of water to enhance the livelihood for small and marginal farmers through development of sustainable ecosystem by water conservation.

DDC informed that District Udhampur is predominantly agrarian where 80 percent population is rural with agriculture as their main source for livelihood. 97 percent of the farming families are small and marginal with low farmer income from orthodox farming (Approx Rs 5000/year/kanal).

Under the project, the perennial water bodies discharge is stored in a pond. These ponds are unique water harvesting structures and the water is supplied to the farmers� fields through a drip irrigation system.

Dr Singla said that Project Jeevika is essentially from the perspective of a farmer and revolves around increasing farmers� income by using water conservation. The Project Jeevika offers holistic integration of factors of production, such as harnessing the untapped perennial water sources to increase the assured irrigation potential through innovative water harvesting structures (Plastic Pond), promoting efficient water use for irrigation by means of micro irrigation-Drip method and Mulching, healthy soil by promoting Vermi-Compost and enhancing off season vegetable production- Poly Houses.

While explaining the significance of the project, DDC said that a joint survey was conducted by Agriculture and Rural Development Department to study the feasibility, requirements and willingness of the farmer to participate and to realize the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi of doubling farmers� income by 2022.

Among others, Additional District Development Commissioner, Ashok Kumar, Chief Planning Officer, Rajeev Bhushan, DFO Shavita Jandial, Assistant Commissioner Development, Mushtaq Chowdhary, Chief Agriculture Officer, Subash Sharma, Soil Conservation Officer, Jammu Vikas Padha, DIO NIC, Anil Sharma and other officers of different department were present on the occasion.