Drylands Must be Reimagined through Resilient Institutions, Digital Public Infrastructure and Community Action: Secretary, Department of Land Resources (DoLR)
Secretary of the Department of Land Resources, Shri Narendra Bhooshan, emphasized building resilient dryland landscapes through integrated watershed development, technology, and community participation at the Dryland Congress 2026 in New Delhi. He noted that India's rainfed agriculture covers 43% of the net sown area and contributes 40% to food production. He also highlighted the achievements of the Watershed Development Component of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (WDC-PMKSY).
Why It Matters
This press release is relevant for civil services and government exam aspirants studying agricultural schemes, rural development, land resources, and climate resilience initiatives in India.
In Simple Words
The Department of Land Resources Secretary spoke at the Dryland Congress 2026 in New Delhi, stressing the need to shift from reactive drought responses to proactive dryland resilience. He asserted that drylands are productive living landscapes rather than wastelands.
He highlighted the success of the WDC-PMKSY scheme over the past 12 years in creating water structures and boosting farmer incomes, while proposing a new Watershed Portal as a Digital Public Infrastructure for better project monitoring and landscape restoration.
Key Points
- Event: Dryland Congress 2026 Partner Spotlight
- Location: National Agricultural Science Complex (NASC), New Delhi
- Start Date: September 10
- Attendance: Over 800 participants from 25+ countries
- Rainfed Agriculture share in India: 43% of net sown area (61.39 million hectares), contributing 40% of food production
- WDC-PMKSY achievements: 7,602 projects covering ~34 million hectares over 12 years
- WDC-PMKSY impacts: ~0.9 million water structures created/rejuvenated, protective irrigation to ~2 million hectares, benefited ~6 million farmers, generated 67 million person-days, covered 0.3 million hectares under plantation
- Benefit-Cost Ratio of completed watershed projects: About 2:1
Exam Angle
A. About 43% (or 61.39 million hectares)
Source: Press Information Bureau