Here are the 10 ways how ITC is helping farmers deploy region-specific interventions to preserve precious water resources -
Use of Subsoilers: Hard / Compacted soil prevents penetration of roots. ITC encourages farmers to use Subsoilers to break the hard soil. This helps in increasing water-holding capacity of the soil and reduces soil erosion
Adopting biological interventions: Using vermicomposting and organic fertilizers increases the soil's organic carbon. This intervention improves the soil structure and increases the moisture retention capability of the soil
Conservation Tillage (Zero Till Farming) - In this method, the previous crop residues are distributed evenly and left on the soil surface and no implements are used to turn the soil over. This practice helps in increasing water absorption and reduces evaporation, erosion, and compaction
Encouraging planting of drought tolerant varieties of seeds / crops that require less water to grow
Raising seedlings under climate controlled 'shade nets' that helps reducing water usage
Using covering material called 'Mulch' on the top soil to conserve moisture. This intervention suppresses weed growth and reduces evaporation
Drip Irrigation: Delivers water directly to the plant roots. This initiative saves more than 50% water than conventional irrigation, and even contributes to increased crop yields by 20%
Deployment of cover crops (green manuring crops) - to cover the soil during off-season. This helps in increasing soil fertility and organic content of the soil
Using technology to carefully monitor soil moisture requirement of the farm to avoid under or over-watering
Deployment of farm ponds, trenches & furrows around their farm to capture and store rainwater for irrigation throughout the year.