Drylands Must be Reimagined through Resilient Institutions, Digital Public Infrastructure and Community Action: Secretary, Department of Land Resources (DoLR)

Speaking at the Dryland Congress 2026 in New Delhi, the Secretary of the Department of Land Resources (DoLR) emphasised shifting from post-drought responses to building climate-resilient dryland landscapes using integrated watershed development, digital public infrastructure, and community participation. Highlighting that rainfed agriculture covers 43% of India's net sown area and contributes 40% of food production, the Secretary detailed the achievements of the Watershed Development Component of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (WDC-PMKSY). Over 12 years, 7,602 projects covering 34 million hectares have been implemented, yielding a Benefit-Cost Ratio of about 2:1, improving water harvesting, and supporting farmers' incomes towards the vision of Viksit Bharat@2047.