The project entitled “ Rejuvenating Watersheds for Agricultural Resilience through Innovative Development (REWARD)” and Sub-titled “Land Resource Inventory (LRI)” funded by Directorate of Soil Conservation and Watershed Development (DSC & amp; WD), Department of Agriculture and Farmers Empowerment, Govt. of Odisha was implemented in the university for a period of five years, i.e.(2021-22 to 2025-26).

Every year there is a significant diversion of farm lands and water resources for non-agricultural purposes. The watershed management programs are aimed at designing suitable soil and water conservation measures, productivity enhancement of existing crops, crop diversification with horticultural species, greening the wastelands with forestry species of multiple uses and improving the livelihood opportunities for landless people. LRI provides the required database and maps needed for addressing the complex issues at the micro level and to provide inputs needed for planning, implementing and monitoring of all land-based developmental programmes.

REWARD project objective is to improve land and water conservation and climate resilience in selected watersheds and strengthen capacities of national and state institutions to deliver more effective science based watershed development programmes which would help increase farmers resilience to climate change, promote higher productivity and better incomes.