During 2008-09, there is a programme to cover 12675 ha under cashew plantation. There is a programme to supply 25.35 lakhs of cashew grafts for area expansion in Farmer's fields and rejuvenation of 2500 ha of Corporation's own plantations under the Scheme. The Odisha State Cashew Development Corporation has a programme to produce 17.70 lakhs grafts of high yielding variety in their own nurseries and balance 7.65 lakhs grafts will be procured from OUAT and identified private nurseries.

SOIL CONSERVATION & WATERSHED DEVELOPMENT:

     Watershed Development Programmes are currently being implemented in the State under various Centrally Sponsored Schemes like Drought Prone Area Programmed (DPAP), Integrated Wasteland Development Programmed (IWDP), National Watershed Development Programme for Rainfed Area (NWDPRA), River Valley Project (RVP) etc. The Watershed Development Programmes are also implemented with Additional Central Assistance (ACA) received under RLTAP for KBK districts. Western Odisha Rural Livelihood Project (WORLP) funded by DFID is also being implemented in four districts namely, Bolangir, Nuapada, Kalahandi and Bargarh.

     The Odisha Watershed Development Mission (OWDM), has been set up as a State level umbrella Institution for monitoring, co-coordinating and strengthening the implementation mechanism of all Watershed programmes in the State.

      Previous practice of engaging various Govt. agencies as the PIAs (Project Implementing Agency) in Watershed Development programmes in addition to their own duties has resulted in weakening of community mobilization process and reduced community participation in the Watershed Development programmes. In view of this, all the PIAs have been made full time without giving them any additional responsibilities. The Watershed Development Teams (WDT), who work with the PIAs and provide technical guidance to the Watershed Committees, have also been made full time in all the Watersheds through engagement of qualified graduates on contract basis. A thorough rationalization was also made in the assignment of the watersheds among the various PIAs and currently each PIA operates a maximum of 12 to 15 Watersheds. As a step towards further strengthening the effective implementation of the Watershed programmes, Offices of the Project Directors (Watersheds) have been created in Bolangir, Nuapada, Kalahandi and Bargargh districts. All Watershed development programmes in these districts are being monitored, supervised and implemented through the Project Director, Watersheds.

Watershed  Development Programmes:

     Watershed Development Programmes focus on harnessing and conserving land and water through various soil and water conservation interventions for increasing and sustaining productivity of land and improving livelihood of the community. The common guidelines issued by the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD), Government of India are followed. For every watershed a minimum of Rs.30.00 lakhs is spent over a period of 5 years. A Project Implementing Agency (PIA) is selected (from line Department / NGOs etc.), who facilitates planning, implementing and monitoring the activities through community participation. The community prepares Micro Action Plans for each watershed and also implements various components of the plans with the technical assistance from the P.I.A.

     Community participation in Watershed Development programmes is given emphasis and various indicators are used to assess the levels of participation, contribution and benefit derived in the watersheds. Heavy thrust and emphasis have been created over a period of time by the OWDM towards building the capacity and empowering the community to implement watershed programmes. Significant achievements have been made by providing hand-holding support to the SHGs and UGs in the Watershed programmes. Currently there are 28,568 SHGs in the various watersheds enrolling around 3.54 lakhs members. So far, the SHGs have mobilized savings to a tune of Rs.22.88 crores, 56,002 User Groups have been formed with 5.63 lakh User Members who have contributed Rs.18.88 crores towards Watershed Development Fund (WDF).

     Watershed activities are being carried out under the Work Plan (NWDPRA and RVP), DPAP, IWDP, RLTAP for KBK and the WORLP.

National Watershed Development Project for Rain fed Areas (NWDPRA):

     The NWDPRA is being implemented as a component of the CSP Macro Management of Agriculture. 212 re-cast watersheds of IX plan period were carried over to X plan for treating 1,38,244 ha at an estimated cost of Rs.6211 .15 lakhs. During Xth Plan period 196 no. of watershed with treatable area of 1,04,929 ha have been taken up. The cost norm per ha is Rs.4500/.

     During the year 2007-08, a sum of Rs.650.99 lakhs has been utilized as per the WARASA-Jan Sahabhagita guidelines and 14467 ha have been treated in 237 watershed.

     During 2008-09,it is proposed to treat 23822 ha at an cost of Rs.1302.00 lakhs for balance 16 watershed of Xth Plan and 221 new watershed.

River Valley Project (RVP):

     The RVP is being implemented as a component of the CSP Macro Management of Agriculture. The RVP Scheme aims at treating degraded catchments area of multipurpose interstate reservoirs with appropriate Soil & Water Conservation measures to check silt in-flow into the reservoirs and to enhance the productivity of degraded land. The Scheme is in operation in four Catchments in the State viz. Hirakud, Rengali-Mandira, Indravati & Upper Kolab. The catchments treatment of Upper Indravati is also proposed to be included under the programme. The scheme is being implemented in collaboration with Forest and Environment Department.The programme is being implemented by Director, Soil Conservation.