Project Overview
Since 2016, COODU has been implementing Water Stewardship Programme: Climate Smart Agriculture & Demand Management Initiatives in the Upper Bhavani River Basin (Karamadai Block, Coimbatore District) with the support of ITC Ltd. – Mission Sunehra Kal (MSK).
The programme spans 24 micro-watersheds across 7 Village Panchayats, focusing on:
- Climate-resilient agriculture,
- Sustainable water management,
- Ecological restoration, and
- Community empowerment.
A notable highlight is the shared ownership model, where farmers contributed ₹1.19 crore (from individual and common works) out of the total ₹13.70 crore project cost, ensuring sustainability and local accountability.
Dual Approach: Supply & Demand Side Interventions
Supply Side – Enhancing Water Availability
The programme invested in capturing and conserving water resources through integrated watershed development.
Key Measures:
- Construction/renovation of percolation tanks, check dams, farm ponds, and recharge wells.
- Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR): 480 well recharge units built to restore groundwater.
- Watershed Development: 7,850 hectares treated, creating 1.02 million cubic meters of additional water storage.
- Plantation of 4.9 lakh+ native saplings to reduce soil erosion and improve soil moisture.
Impact:
- Reduced water scarcity and improved groundwater recharge.
- Increased year-round irrigation access.
- Restored degraded lands and improved ecological balance.
Demand Side – Optimizing Water Use
Alongside enhancing supply, the project promoted responsible and efficient use of available water.
Key Measures:
- Climate Smart Agriculture: Adoption of organic farming, precision agriculture, and agroforestry.
- Water Use Efficiency: Micro-irrigation, improved irrigation scheduling, and crop diversification.
- Demonstration Plots: 150 crop demonstrations (Banana, Coconut, Curry Leaf) with TNAU support.
- Capacity Building: 151 Farmers’ Field Schools and 14 specialized trainings for 3,850+ farmers.
- Water User Groups (WUGs): 62 WUGs formed to promote collective management and equitable use.
Impact:
- Saved 23.6 million cubic meters of water across 5,800 hectares of farmland.
- Reduced cost of cultivation, improved yields, and enhanced farmer incomes.
- Built strong local governance with participation from women and tribal communities.
Key Achievements (2016–2025)
- Water Conservation & Recharge: 1,090 water harvesting structures built/renovated (198 percolation tanks, 89 check dams, 323 farm ponds, 480 well recharge units).
- Community Institutions: 2,352+ WUG meetings conducted to sustain water governance.
- Knowledge Exchange: 28 Farmers’ Field Schools, 14 training sessions, and large-scale Water Mela events for farmers.
- Stakeholder Engagement: 15 partners (academia, government, NGOs, corporates) collaborated on water and agriculture issues.
- Social Development: Directly benefitted 7,800+ households, with 4,800 women and tribals sensitized on conservation practices.
Local Contribution & Ownership
Financial Outlay
- Total Project Cost: ₹13.70 crore
- Farmers’ Contribution: ₹1.19 crore
This co-investment model reflects community ownership, ensuring that water harvesting structures are maintained, farming practices are continued, and resilience is built for the long term.
Project Impact
- Agriculture: Higher yields, lower cultivation costs, better incomes.
- Water Security: Improved availability, recharge, and equitable use.
- Livelihoods: Diversified income sources through agroforestry and improved farming.
- Environment: Stronger ecosystems, reduced erosion, enhanced biodiversity.
- Community Empowerment: Women, tribal groups, and farmers co-leading sustainable change.
A Decade of Transformation
Over the last 9 years (2016–2025), the partnership between ITC’s Mission Sunehra Kal (Corporate), COODU (NGO), and local farming communities has created a replicable model of water stewardship and climate-smart agriculture.
This integrated approach—balancing supply-side water augmentation and demand-side water efficiency—shows how Corporate + NGO + Community = Sustainability
