Watershed: Realizing the dream of a developed India towards agricultural and farmers’ prosperity through water, soil conservation- Chouhan
Shivraj Singh Chouhan/ August 24,2025
Water is life, and soil is our existence, our foundation. Without water and soil, life itself is unimaginable. Today, as the environmental crisis deepens — with wells drying up, river streams weakening, and groundwater sinking further into the depths — it becomes our responsibility to safeguard water and soil for future generations. When our fields are green and our farmers prosperous, only then can Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision of a ‘Viksit Bharat by 2047’ be achieved, because this dream’s path runs through our villages, fertile soils, and flourishing crops.
At many places today, the groundwater level has dropped by 1,000 to 1,500 feet. If our fertile soil continues to erode and land keeps turning barren, what will be the future of the coming generations? With such farsighted thinking and concern for the future, under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, our government has undertaken a major initiative. The Prime Minister always works with vision — not just for today, but for the next 50 to 100 years. Under his leadership, the Department of Land Resources, Government of India, is implementing the ‘Watershed Development Component’ of the ‘Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (WDC-PMKSY) across the country. But the government alone cannot do this. Society must also join in this great effort. It is an initiative to save the Earth. If water, soil, and land survive, then the future will survive. This scheme is being implemented particularly in drought-prone and rainfed areas to bring prosperity to farmers living there, where once every drop of water was a struggle.
Many people ask me what exactly this watershed scheme is. I tell them in simple language that it is not just a government scheme but a people’s movement, run by the people and for the people. Its core mantra is: “Water of the farm stays in the farm, water of the village stays in the village.” Under it, we collectively strengthen field bunds, build small ponds in fields, and construct check dams across small streams. This ensures rainwater doesn’t flow away as waste but instead seeps into the ground, raising groundwater levels and retaining moisture in the soil for longer periods of time.
The greatest strength of this scheme is people’s participation. Villagers themselves decide where ponds should be dug, where bunds should be built, and where trees should be planted. Landless families and women self-help groups are also connected with activities like poultry farming and beekeeping to increase their income. The scheme has shown very encouraging results. Farmers’ incomes have increased between 8% and 70%. This has been possible because, since 2015, the government has spent more than ₹20,000 crore, implemented over 6,382 projects across the country, and restored nearly 30 million hectares of land back to fertility.
In Jhabua, Madhya Pradesh — where drought was once a major problem — tribal villages today have abundant water and enhanced soil fertility. In 22 project villages, groundwater has risen by a metre. Farming patterns have changed. Farmers say that after check dams were built, they are now cultivating chickpeas alongside maize, increasing their income by Rs 50,000–Rs 60,000. Similarly, in Parvaliya Panchayat of Jhabua, farm ponds built in 12 fields have boosted farmers’ incomes by Rs 1-1.5 lakh per hectare.
Under this scheme, more than 9 lakh watershed structures — including check dams, percolation tanks, and farm ponds — have been built. Over 5.6 crore person-days of employment have been generated, boosting rural livelihoods. Watershed projects have brought remarkable changes in villages. In project areas, new water sources have spread over more than 1.5 lakh hectares — a 16% increase. Farmers have diversified beyond traditional crops into horticulture and tree farming, with horticulture acreage rising by 12% to 1.9 lakh hectares.
In desert areas like Barmer, Rajasthan — where water scarcity once forced farmers to migrate — pomegranate cultivation has brought greenery back. Over 120 farmers were provided pomegranate plants that thrive in sandy soil and limited water. Pomegranate cultivation not only increased income but also encouraged farmers like Mangilal Parangi of Boodiwada village to shift from castor to horticulture. Similarly, in Tripura, farmers like Dashi Riang and Biman Riang have revived barren lands through pineapple farming under this scheme, earning good income.
To spread this movement nationwide, we also launched a ‘Watershed Yatra’. Through this journey, a mass awareness campaign on water and soil conservation was carried out. Technology too has been extensively used as tools like Bhuvan geoportal (Srishti) and Drishti mobile apps are ensuring precise monitoring of progress. Farmers’ hard work and government efforts have increased cultivated area nationwide. Satellite data shows a rise of nearly 10 lakh hectares (5% growth) in cropped areas and 1.5 lakh hectares (16% growth) in water bodies. Importantly, more than 8.4 lakh hectares of barren land has become cultivable again.
Under Prime Minister Modi’s able leadership, in this Amrit Kaal, we are writing a new story of land conservation. These are not just figures, but the living testimony of farmers’ hard work and their brighter future. Only by saving water and soil can we secure the future of coming generations. Together, let us fulfill this resolve, make farmers prosperous, and build a developed India.
PM Shri Modi believes that this campaign will succeed not just through government efforts but with society’s participation. With initiatives like the ‘Watershed Yatra’, the scheme has already become a mass movement. This is the story of the toil of Indian farmers and their changing future. India will be secure when water and soil are protected. By 2047, the dream of a ‘Viksit Bharat’ will be realised only when village lands prosper and farmers flourish. Let us collectively take forward this pledge to conserve water and soil.
(Author: Union Minister of Agriculture, Farmers’ Welfare & Rural Development)
