NABARD helps UP in watershed development

Lucknow, Apr 2 (UNI) National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) has helped Uttar Pradesh to develop potential in rain-fed areas as part of the watershed development project.

''The development of rain-fed areas under watershed approach has gained utmost importance. We have taken up the challenge of watershed development by creating a fund for the purpose...capacity building phase of as many as 62 watersheds have been sanctioned so far. Full implementation of 10 watersheds have been sanctioned in UP,'' said chief general manager Y L Sapra here.

A subsidy aggregating Rs 11.88 crore was releaed to the banks in the fiscal ending March 31, 2006 to be passed on to farmers under the central On Farm Management Scheme.

The Scheme for creation of irrigation facilities is under implementaion in 35 east UP districts.

''We have continued with promotional efforts for development of Rural Non Farm sector. As many as 63 Rural Entrepreneurship Development Programmes and skill developmental programmes involving grant assistance of Rs 26 lakh were sanctioned in the last financial year,'' Mr Sapra said.

He added, these efforts would enable setting up of around 1,600 units under the non-farm sector.

UNI NAB VS OM RS1215