SBI Foundation's Water Conservation Drive Transforms Gadag Agriculture
In a significant boost to rural development, the SBI Foundation has successfully implemented a comprehensive water conservation project in Gadag district, Karnataka, over the past three years. Under its flagship 'SBI Raita Bandhu Project', the foundation constructed 380 farm ponds and completed desilting work on 22 village ponds, directly empowering small and marginal farmers across the region.
Holistic Development for Drought-Prone Areas
Swapan Dhar, Managing Director and CEO of SBI Foundation, emphasized the foundation's commitment to holistic rural development. "Our 'Raitha Bandhu' initiative in Gadag district, implemented in partnership with SRDS (Sankalpa Rural Development Society), stands as a testament to our unwavering dedication to farmers' welfare," Dhar stated. He explained that this unique initiative was specifically designed to empower farmers through watershed development in this drought-prone district, impacting thousands by significantly improving access to crucial irrigation facilities. "This work highlights the essential need for collaborative initiatives between corporate foundations and local implementation partners," Dhar added.
Tangible Benefits for Farmers and Communities
The project has yielded multiple, measurable benefits for the agricultural community. Sharanappagouda Marigoudar, a farmer from Pethalur village, highlighted the soil conservation advantages. "Since the silt was removed from our village ponds, we can now apply this nutrient-rich soil directly to our agricultural fields," Marigoudar shared. "This practice has improved soil fertility, reduced soil erosion, and helped us save approximately 30–40% on chemical fertilizer costs, thereby increasing our overall farm incomes."
Pramodgouda Patil, a farmer from Hallikeri, pointed to additional community benefits. "Village pond rejuvenation has contributed significantly to livestock welfare by ensuring year-round availability of drinking water for our animals," Patil noted. "Moreover, the consistent presence of water in these ponds has reduced the movement of wild animals such as deer and peacocks into human settlements, thereby minimizing human-wildlife conflict in our area."
Expanding Access Through Strategic Support
Chidanand Korishettar, a resident of Bidaralki, detailed the logistical support provided. "An excavator was made available exclusively for farm pond construction in Mundaragi taluk," Korishettar asserted. "This facility enabled farmers to construct farm ponds completely free of cost, thereby dramatically expanding access to water conservation infrastructure and enhancing agricultural resilience against drought conditions."
Comprehensive Impact and Future Implications
Sikandar Meeranaik, CEO of Sankalpa Rural Development Society (SRDS), the implementation agency for the 'Raita Bandhu' project, provided a comprehensive overview of the total impact. "Beyond SBI Foundation's direct works, we coordinated with other CSR-supported projects to construct an additional 30 farm ponds and carried out desilting works at community lakes in 13 more villages," Meeranaik explained.
Through these combined efforts:
- Desilting was implemented in a total of 35 villages across Gadag district
- 410 farm ponds were constructed through various initiatives
- More than 55,000 people, including farmers and rural households, benefited directly and indirectly
Meeranaik emphasized the critical importance of these interventions for specific communities. "Villages such as Pethalur, Venkatapur, Haitapur, Eklaspur, and Hallikeri in the Mundargi block are heavily dependent on ponds for drinking water. Therefore, water conservation initiatives—including pond development, desilting, and rejuvenation—are of paramount importance in this region."
The SBI Raita Bandhu Project represents a model for corporate-social responsibility in agricultural development, demonstrating how targeted infrastructure investment can create sustainable change in water-stressed rural economies.
