Koraput
Background
The ICAR-Indian Institute of Soil and Water Conservation (ICAR-IISWC) formerly known as Central Soil and Water Conservation Research and Training Institute (CSWCRTI), Research Centre, Sunabeda, Koraput District in Odisha State was established in June, 1992.
This is the Youngest and Eighth Research Center of ICAR-IISWC, Dehradun to cater the problems of the eco-sensitive tribal region of Eastern Ghats in Agro Eco Region - 12 through undertaking research, development, extension/outreach & capacity building activities in the field of soil and water conservation, water resource development & watershed management.
The Eastern Ghats region though bestowed with rich and diversified natural resources, yet suffers from various land degradation problems due to shifting cultivation, deforestation, mining activities and other socio-economic constraints. As per the harmonized data base on land degradation, an area of 17.07 M ha land area is suffering from various forms of land degradation in the Eastern region. Over a period, the research centre has developed number of cost-effective conservation measures for enhancing the productivity of arable and non-arable lands in the region
Mandate
- To undertake research and develop strategies for controlling land degradation under all primary production systems and rehabilitation of degraded lands in the Eastern Ghats Region (Agro-Eco-region: 12
- To provide leadership and coordinate research network with State Agricultural Universities (SAU)/ Central Institutions/ NGOs / line State Govt. Departments for developing location specific technologies in the area of soil and water conservation.
- To impart specialized training in soil and water conservation and watershed management to the stakeholders
- To develop sustainable production system models through participatory and integrated research approaches
- To provide consultancy and advisory services in the field of soil and water conservation, water resource development and watershed management
SCIENTISTS
Scientific
Infrastructure
To accomplish the Research Centre mandates, the centre has newly constructed office building with a library, soil and plant analysis laboratory, museum and conference hall facilities. The Research Centre also has a well laid out research farm of 110 ha area at Maliguda which is about 8 km from the main office for conducting research and demonstrations on resource conservation technologies
Soil Laboratory
For analysis of soil, water and plant samples, the Centre has a laboratory equipped with modern and scientific instruments.
The equipments like Kjeltak nitrogen analyzer, Spectrophotometer, Flame meter, Yoder apparatus, Guelph Permeameter, Stage level recorders, Multi-slot deviser, etc., are available for supporting the mandated activities of the Research Centre.
The Research Centre also has Class- B Meteorological Observatory for monitoring weather parameters.
Soil, water and plant sample analysis, runoff samples and silt samples from the field plots and watersheds are being analysed for various parameters
Computer and Communication Cell
The Research Centre is equipped with desktop computers and server. All are connected by LAN and Internet facility for the purpose of research and data analysis. The ARIS cell is also equipped with Geographic Information System (Arc View 3.1), Colour Plotter and Global Positioning System (GPS).
Library
The Centre has library facility to cater the needs of Scientific Staff, Trainees, Students, NGOs, Government and other R&D Departments, and other professionals working in the field of soil and water conservation and watershed management in the region.
Library
Museum
Museum
The Centre Museum is exhibited with the Status, Problems and Potentials of the Eastern Ghats region along with major achievements of the Research Centre under identified research programme of the Institute. The museum caters to the needs of various stakeholders and visitors including students.
Research
- Forest soils were found to be inherently less erodible ('K' value of 0.03 to 0.07) compared to shifting cultivation lands (0.15 to 0.21) and village pasture lands (0.07 to 0.21).
- At 70% probability, the seasonal rainfall prediction for Eastern Ghats High Land Zone of Orissa for Semiliguda, Koraput, Jeypore, Pottangi, Kolab, Nandapur, Lamtaput, Malkangiri, Nawarangpur and Rayagada regions is 1180.63, 999.56, 1814.75, 1129.59, 1943.46, 1006.25, 1590.76, 1070.66, 1159.7 and 775.18 mm, respectively
- Studies on shifting cultivation; continuously for 5 years revealed that the deterioration in soil quality decreased the organic carbon from 0.97% to 0.42% with 33.2% runoff and average annual soil loss of 34.8 tons per hectare. This in turn reduced the productivity of rice by 19%, fingermillet by 72% and ginger by 50%.
- To use resources efficiently and enhancing the productivity of crops, Ragi + Redgram intercropping system was more promising and remunerative over traditional cropping system for reducing runoff by 29%, soil loss by 41% and increasing the yield of crops by 76% over farmers practice.
- Vegetative barrier of Sambuta grass is an eco-friendly and an effective measure for soil and water conservation on sloping arable and non-arable lands and it reduced runoff and soil loss by 64% and increased yield of ragi by 34 % over farmers' practice
- Multitier cropping systems comprising of ginger and pigeonpea intercropping in papaya and gliricidia on field bunds is effective in reducing runoff and soil loss by 55%, yielding higher returns with improving soil health over traditional mono-cropping of ragi in the region.
- Jhola Kundi is a low-cost effective water-harvesting technique with depth varying from 2 m to 4 m and a diameter of 3 m and can irrigate 0.5 ha vegetable cropped area during the rabi season. Paddle operated pump locally called Krishak Bandhu pump are being used to lift water. This in turn can enhance the cropping intensity and income significantly and was found to be most promising for the resource poor tribal farmers of the region.
- Results from Kokriguda watershed have revealed that various conservation measures increased the cropping intensity by 120%, productivity of different crops by 15 to 100% and increased fodder availability significantly apart from reducing runoff and soil loss.
- Similarly in Lachhaputraghati watershed, due to various soil and water conservation measures, the runoff and soil loss decreased by 31 and 50%, respectively besides increased in ground water table and enhancing productivity of crops. Various livelihood activities in the watershed increased the income level of the resource poor tribal community in the watershed.
Institute Project
| So. No. | Title | Duration | PI | Co PI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | (NRMACSWCRTICIL200800100014) Erosion-productivity relationships for evaluating vulnerability and resiliency of soils under different agro-climatic regions of India | 2009-10 to 2024-25 | Ch. Jyotiprava Dash | |
| 2 | (NRMAIISWCCIL201900300162) Carbon sequestration potential of prevailing and recommended land uses in reclaimed degraded ecosystems in different agro-ecological regions of India | 2019-20 to 2023-24 | Jotirmayee Lenka, H. C.Hombe Gowda | |
| 3 | (NRMAIISWCCIL201500800094) Restoration of shifting cultivated lands for resource conservation and sustainable production in Eastern Ghats | 2015-16 to 2022-23 | Jotirmayee Lenka | |
| 4 | (NRMAIISWCSILL202202600198) Effect of Natural farming practices on Resource conservation and productivity in different AERs of India | 2022-23 to 2026-27 | Jotirmayee Lenka , Ch. Jyotiprava Dash, R. Rajesh Bishnoi | |
| 5 | (NRMAIISWCCIL202000300173) Evaluation of rainwater management practices in mango based agri-horticultural system | 2020-21 To 2026-27 | Jotirmayee Lenka | Ch. Jyotiprava Dash, Rajesh Bishnoi |
| 6 | (NRMAIISWCCIL 201800600154) Evaluation of catchment-storage-command area relationship for improving rainwater productivity under integrated production system | 2018-19 To 2022-23 | Jotirmayee Lenka | Ch. Jyotiprava Dash |
Externally Funded Projects
| So.No. | Title | Duration | PI | CO.PI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | (NRMAIISWCCOL 202206200208) Comprehensive Hydrologic Monitoring and Assessment for Science-Based Watershed Planning and Management in Selected Districts of OdishaRejuvenating of Watershed for Agricultural Resilience through Innovative Development(REWARD) - Externally Funded, World Bank funded project, DSC&WD | 2022- 23 To 2024-25 | M. Madhu | H.C. Hombe Gowda, Ch. Jyotiprava Dash, Jotirmayee Lenka Rajesh Bishnoi, Gopal Kumar, Uday Mandal, Sridhar Patra , M. Sankar |
| 2 | (NRMAIISWCCOL 202206300209) Promotion of Technologies for Quality Seed Production of Landraces of Paddy and Finger Millet in Koraput District, Odisha (DBT2) | 2022- 23 To 2025-26 | H. C. Hombe Gowda | Ch. Jyotiprava Dash, Jotirmayee Lenka, Rajesh Bishnoi |
| 3 | (NRMAIISWCCOL202100800192) Assessment of performance of traditional water harvesting structures Jhola kundi in enhancing socio-economic status of tribals in Koraput district, Odisha. | 2021-22 To 2023-24 | Ch. Jyotiprava Dash | H.C .Hombe Gowda, M.Madhu, Jotirmayee Lenka, Rajesh Bishnoi |
| 4 | (NRMAIISWCCOL202001100181) Up-scaling sustainable technological solutions and replicable models for ensuring food and nutrition, livelihood and social security of Scheduled Tribes in selected Gram Panchayats of Koraput district, Odisha. (Collaborative with MSSRF, Externally, DST funded) | 2020-21 To 2023-24 | Ch. Jyotiprava Dash | M.Madhu, Jotirmayee Lenka, Rajesh Bishnoi |
| 5 | (NRMAIISWCCOL 202206000206) Network project “Production systems, agribusiness and instituitions”Component 1: “Impact of agricultural Technology: Impact of watershed managementin different agro-ecological regions | 2021-22 To 2024-25 | Rajesh Bishnoi | |
| 6 | (NRMAIISWCCOL 202100700191) Women empowerment through watershed development programmes in different agro-ecological regions of India (Inter-institutional Collaboration with ICARCIWA, BBSR) | 2021-22 To 2023-24 | Rajesh Bishnoi | |
| 7 | Demonstration of Agriculture Drone technology in different region of India under Agri-Drone Project (Externally funded, ICARATARI-Ludhiana funded, NEW PROJECT) | 2022-23 To 2023-24 | Jotirmayee Lenka |
Training
Human Resource Development
The Centre under takes capacity building activates for field level to senior level officers of various Departments, NGOs etc., and also to farmers on Soil and Water Conservation and Watershed Development.
Centre also imparts one month practical training to the B.Tech students from various Universities in the region.
The centre has good class room and conference hall equipped with modern facilities to support specialized and stakeholders based training programmes.
Research Farm
The Centre has a Research Farm of 110 ha, which is located at a distance of 8 km from the National Highway 43. The Research Farm is well equipped for conducting field studies, demonstration of technologies and conservation modules. The entire topography of the Research Farm resembles the typical shifting cultivated affected area and is an ideal site for diversified research and development activities.
The Centre is also equipped with various hydrological devices like Automatic stage level recorders, H-Flumes, Coshocton silt samplers, Multi-slot devisors, Ramser's sampler and a number of self recording gauging stations (runoff plot, field plots, micro-watershed and small watersheds) for monitoring various parameters related to resource conservation. Other facilities of the farm include residential campus, workshop, tractors, power tiller, farm equipments, etc.
Collaboration
Consultancy
The centre has the capability to offer consultancy services to different agencies under the following areas
- Participatory integrated watershed development, planning and management
- Monitoring and impact evaluation of watershed programme
- Soil and water conservation programme
- Planning of land development-cum-water resource development
- Hydrological monitoring, water harvesting and drainage line treatment
- Environmental rehabilitation of degraded lands including mining treatment plan
- Watershed hydrology and water resources development and Impact assessment of natural resource conservation programme
Collaborations/Linkages
- ICAR Research Complex for Eastern Region, Patna, Bihar : Development of collaborative research project and sharing of technologies
- DWM, Bhubaneswar, Odisha: Development of collaborative research project and sharing of technologies
- Indian Meteorological Department, Pune, Govt. of India: Sharing of Agromet data
- Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Govt. of India: Collaborative research programme on watershed development
- Ministry of Water Resource, Govt. of India: Collaborative research programme to increase water use efficiency of crops
- Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology, Bhubaneswar, Odisha: Training of B.Tech (Agril.Engg) students,R&D activities
- Orissa Watershed Development Mission, Bhubaneswar, Govt of Odisha: Advisory services related to soil and water conservation technologies, impacting training to Officers/Field level functionaries on watershed development and impact evaluation.
- District Rural Development Agency, Koraput, Govt of Odisha: Advisory services related to soil and water conservation technologies
- Orissa Tribal Empowerment and Livelihood Programme, Bhubaneswar, Govt. of Odisha: Advisory services related to soil and water conservation technologies and Human resource development
- M.S.Swaminathan Research Foundation, Jeypore, Odisha: Advisory services and collaborative research programme
- Orissa Forestry Sector Development Programme, Ministry of Forest, Govt of Odisha: Advisory services related to soil and water conservation technologies in forest area and impact evaluation
- Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Kalyani, West Bengal: Training of B.Tech (Agril.Engg) students and other R&D activities.
- Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Raipur: Training of B.Tech (Agril.Engg) students,
- The Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth, Rahuri, Maharashtra: Training of B.Tech (Agril.Engg) students.
- Ministry of Environment and Forest, Bhubaneswar, Govt of Odisha: Preparation of Rehabilitation plan for mining affected area
- Shaheed Gundadhoor College of Agriculture & Research Station (SGCARS), Jagdalpur (Chhattisgarh): Scientific advisory and development of collaborative research programme
- KVK , Semiliguda, Koraput, Odisha: Advisory services related to soil and water conservation technologies and transfer of technology
- Central Sericulture Research Institute, Research Centre, Koraput, Odisha: Advisory services, related to soil and water conservation technologies and member of scientific advisory committee
- Central Cattle Breeding Farm, Sunabeda, Koraput, Odisha: Advisory services, related to soil and water conservation technologies and member of scientific advisory committee and other committees.
- Regional Research and Technology Transfer Station (RRTTS ), Semiliguda, Koraput, Odisha :Advisory services, related to soil and water conservation technologies and member of scientific advisory committee.
- Soil Conservation Training Institute (SCTI), Koraput, Odisha: Advisory services and resource person for training to Officers/field level functionaries on soil and water conservation / watershed management.