The Jharkhand government has embarked on an ambitious initiative to promote climate-resilient agriculture and restore barren land across the state.
The project, being implemented by the Jharkhand State Watershed Mission (JSWM) under the Rural Development Department, aims to cultivate 2.1 million tissue-cultured thorny cactus plants over 400 hectares of land.
This effort forms part of the Watershed Development Component of the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY).
Officials said the initiative is designed not only to rehabilitate degraded land but also to create new avenues of livelihood for rural communities. The cactus, known for its resilience in arid conditions, will serve multiple purposes—ranging from the production of biofuel and biofertiliser to use as fodder and food.
Its deep-rooted structure will also help prevent soil erosion and mitigate the adverse effects of climate change, making it an eco-friendly solution to some of Jharkhand’s most pressing environmental challenges.
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The agency selected for the project will be responsible for producing and supplying all 2.1 million plants within 120 days. It will also be held accountable for maintaining the quality of the plants and ensuring their timely distribution.
In addition, the agency must provide farmers with training and technical assistance for a period of two years to ensure the long-term success of the initiative.
Payments to the agency will be made every month, based on the quality and quantity of plants supplied, after inspection and verification by JSWM.
According to official estimates, Jharkhand has around 5.71 lakh hectares of barren land. Through this climate-adaptive effort, the state government hopes to convert a significant portion of it into productive, sustainable farmland that supports both livelihoods and the environment.
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