In Karnataka, 79 percent of the area is drought-prone, which is the second-largest area of dry land in the country after Rajasthan. Karnataka has the second-lowest replenishable groundwater resources among major states, after Rajasthan. The Karnataka government initiated the Sujala project to recharge groundwater through a watershed program. Akashvani correspondent said that the launch of the Watershed Yatra by Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has been welcomed in Karnataka.
The watershed plays an important role in Karnataka, which has the highest percent of dry land after Rajasthan in the country. The watershed programme has helped raise water tables, brought degraded lands under cultivation, enabled farmers to diversify into higher-value crops and horticulture, and raised agricultural productivity.
The Watershed Yatra mass outreach campaign to create awareness about watershed development activities was launched across Karnataka on February 5th. Various activities were planned as part of the Watershed Yatra across the state. In Tumkuru, the Gram Panchayat had organised an essay competition, a rangoli competition, and a jatha procession to familiarise the concepts of watersheds as part of the Yatra.
In Mandya, an oath was administered to the members of the gram sabha to popularise watershed programs. In Chickballapur, the Watershed Yatra saw participation from Gram Panchayat members, the regional heads of Krishi Vigyan Kendra, the Watershed Development department, and villagers. Watersheds have increased the water table, average milk yields have improved, household incomes have increased, and the lives of people distressed by dry land farming.