Meghalaya, a hilly state with its diverse agro-climatic ecological conditions characterized by high rainfall and endowed with potentially rich natural resources, is at present under intense pressure and thread due to depletion of the three basic resources of life supporting system, that is, land, water and vegetation induced by natural and human and livestock, over exploitation of natural resources, ill/inadequate land management practices etc, which are further exerting pressure on the natural environment. This has led to further deterioration of the ecosystem leading to an increase in the incidence of flash floods, sedimentation of streambeds and water reservoirs, land degradation, emergence of wasteland and eventually the aggravation of poverty and socio-economic fragility. In view of emerging policies, there was a felt need to bring about convergence, networking and harmonization through the adoption of compatible Soil & Water Conservation practices improve the productivity of natural resources in a sustained manner.

Mandate:-

Natural resources management, in particular, the soil, water and vegetation resources in the context of the perpetual utilization and sustainable development of the said resources to improve and sustain livelihood system and to aid in income earning activities of the user – communities.

  Aims:-

Promote Scientific utilization of soil, water, vegetation resources for sustainable crop production.
Sustainable food support and water
Promote social, economic and ecological development

Objectives:-

Dissipating accelerated soil erosion, surface runoff and erosion of top soil.
Enhancing water holding capacity of the soil.
Improving soil moisture regime within the soil profile/monolith.
Promoting soil health and tilth..
Providing soil cover with the forest trees/fruit trees/plantation crops, etc.
Protection stream/river bank erosion and denudation of cultivable/cultivated land
Protecting drainage area of water sources.
Harvesting rainwater of multipurpose utilities.
Establishing micro-irrigation facilities.
Enhancing agricultural crop productivity
Promoting Integrated Farming System.
Promoting livelihood and gainful employment opportunities.

Pre – requisites:

In this natural resources management endeavour, it is important for the local partners in development, that is, the local institutions, community, stakeholders, users to unreservedly, voluntarily and actively participate in the different phases – explanatory, planning phases and upward. Secondly, it is also equally required for other development departments to willingly practice for ensuring convergence to bring about holistic and realistic development of the people. Lastly, the importance of public – private – partnership in up-scaling the natural resources management programmes required no emphasis.

To ensure that the service – deliveries promote and meet and afore – cited aim and objectives, and mechanism to take forward the system is required. They are underlined as follows:

Formulation of Land Use and Action Plan on a participatory mode; adoption of appropriate Soil & Water Conservation technique and measures preferably on a watershed basis, which is increasingly recognized as an ideal approach of the Integrated Natural Resources Management Programme.
Strengthening the information, Education, Communication Systems, Capacity Building and Demonstration.
Application of Science and technology and research and development inputs.
Awareness campaign, mobilization and organization of the community, empowerment, building their capacity, upgradation of local skills.
Promotion and encouragement of Self Help Institutions and other promoting intuitions.
Designing mechanism to monitor and evaluate socio – techno – economic impacts and results.

Central Sponsored Scheme Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme (AIBP)
CC CHANNEL AT TYLLAP	CHECK DAM AT TYLLAP.	RCC CHECK DAM AT KHAHUMRIN.
PROTECTION WALL AT MAWBANG.	WATER HARVESTING STRUCTURE AT UMSAW	DISTRIBUTION BOX AT UMSAWMASKON

 

 

 

Integrated Wasteland Development Programme( IWDP)
CONTOUR BUND – AT  MAWRYYNGKHONG -UMSONG	DRIP IRRIGATION - MAWLONG -      WAHSNGLET	DRINKING CUM WASHING PLACE- MAWLONG- WAHSANGLET..

 

 

Integrated Watershed Management Programme (IWMP)
EPA-WATER HARVESTING AT NONGTHYMMAI	PROTECTION WALL AT TYRNA.	SEEDS DISTRIBUTION AT MAJAI.

 

 

 

Rashtriya Krishi Vigyan Yojana (RKVY)
CONTOUR BUND LAITKYNSEW	TERRACE AT LAITKYNSEW .	PROTECTION WALL AT MAWLONG .