Improved conservation techniques
Enhanced awareness and adoption of soil and water conservation practices across all seven project districts.
PMKSY watershed development
Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana — a centrally sponsored scheme delivered by Coodu Trust with the District Watershed Development Agency across seven districts of Tamil Nadu.
2,408
Beneficiaries trained
7
Districts covered
5
Training focus areas
4
Partner institutions
The project
What this project set out to do
Project mission
Improve the productive potential of rainfed and degraded lands through an integrated watershed management approach — strengthening community-based institutions and promoting sustainable livelihoods for long-term agricultural sustainability.
The Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) is a centrally sponsored scheme implemented by Coodu Trust in collaboration with the District Watershed Development Agency. During the 2022–2024 period, delivery focused on extensive capacity building: 2,408 beneficiaries completed block-level training across 7 districts — Dindigul, Ramanathapuram, Thoothukudi, Virudhunagar, Perambalur, Krishnagiri and Dharmapuri.
Training reached the people who keep a watershed working after the project team leaves: watershed committee members, farmers and Self-Help Group members — the local stakeholders responsible for the sustainable management of land and water resources in their own villages.
- Community governance
- Soil & water conservation
- Micro-enterprise skills
- Organic practices
Why this work matters
The challenge on the ground — and our answer
The challenge
Committees expected to govern without training
Watershed committees are asked to manage land and water for whole villages — yet most members never receive formal training in governance or conservation.
Our response
Block-level capacity building at scale
2,408 committee members, farmers and SHG members trained across 7 districts — on governance, conservation, micro-enterprises, organic farming and micro-irrigation.
The challenge
Techniques that stay in the classroom
Lecture-only training rarely changes practice in the field — farmers need to see modern cropping and water management working first-hand.
Our response
Exposure visits to leading institutions
Training-cum-exposure visits to KVK Gandhigram, TNAU Coimbatore, TNAU Killikulam and Horticulture College Periyakulam put working practices in front of participants.
At a glance
The essentials
- Scheme
- PMKSYPradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana — centrally sponsored
- Period
- 2022–2024Capacity-building phase, successfully completed
- Coverage
- 7 districtsDindigul, Ramanathapuram, Thoothukudi, Virudhunagar, Perambalur, Krishnagiri, Dharmapuri
- Beneficiaries
- 2,408 trainedWatershed committee members, farmers & SHG members
- Implementing partner
- District Watershed Development AgencyExposure visits with KVK Gandhigram, TNAU Coimbatore, TNAU Killikulam & Horticulture College Periyakulam
- Part of
- Watershed portfolioOne of 6 government watershed programmes delivered since 2001
Outcomes
What the project changed
Strengthened communities
Empowered watershed committees now lead resource management in their own villages — governance that outlasts the project.
Economic opportunities
New livelihood pathways opened through agriculture micro-enterprises and sustainable farming practices.
Get involved
Support watershed development
Join us in implementing watershed projects that strengthen communities, improve agricultural sustainability and enhance water security across Tamil Nadu.