REWARD Programme
Why in News?
The REWARD Programme is in the news because the National Rainfed Area Authority (NRAA) organized a high-level workshop in Jaipur, Rajasthan, on "Satellite and Drone-based Survey for Watershed Planning & Monitoring".
Program Framework at a Glance
| Aspect | Detail |
| Nodal Ministry | Ministry of Rural Development (DoLR) |
| Technical Partner | National Rainfed Area Authority (NRAA) |
| Primary Funding Split | 70:30 between World Bank and State Governments |
| Key Technologies | GIS mapping, high-resolution satellite tracking, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) |
Overview and Meaning
- Full Form: REWARD stands for Rejuvenating Watersheds for Agricultural Resilience through Innovative Development.
- Primary Objective: It aims to strengthen the capacities of national and state institutions to adopt improved, science-backed watershed management.
- Target Audience: The initiative focuses on increasing farmers' resilience to climate change, boosting land productivity, and fostering rural value chains.
Financial and Operational Structure
- Global Partner: The project is actively assisted and funded by the World Bank.
- Timeline: It is a multi-year initiative running from 2021 to 2026.
- Implementing Agency: Managed at the central level by the Department of Land Resources (DoLR) under the Ministry of Rural Development.
- Geographical Focus: The implementation primarily scales across selected rainfed watersheds in the states of Karnataka and Odisha.
- Funding Model: Operates via a Program for Results (PforR) instrument where the World Bank disburses loans based on the verified achievement of specific performance indicators.
Environmental and Farming Benefits
- Resource Recharging: Prevents soil run-off, regenerates native vegetation, and rapidly recharges depleting groundwater tables.
- Agricultural Shift: Enables rainfed farmers to shift from single-crop dependencies to multi-cropping systems.
- Alternative Livelihoods: Introduces diverse, sustainable agro-based enterprises to enhance overall rural household incomes.
