The ICAR-Indian Institute of Water Management (IIWM) organized a one-day field demonstration on crop diversification at Sajanapada village in Nayagarh district under the RKVY Project on 8th September 2025. The program aimed to highlight the linkage between groundwater recharge and sustainable cropping practices, with special focus on women farmers. Around 25 women participants were sensitized on the importance of conserving groundwater resources and adopting crop diversification as a strategy to enhance productivity and resilience. As part of the demonstration, farmers were shown the practice of flower cultivation in place of paddy near a groundwater recharge structure, showcasing an alternative that reduces water demand while generating higher income opportunities. The event was coordinated by Dr. O. P. Verma and Dr. Ranu Rani Sethi, Principal Scientists of ICAR-IIWM, and served as a practical platform to encourage farmers to integrate resource conservation with livelihood enhancement.
