Over 20,000 wheat farmers to implement improved water management practices to support river restoration
Kasganj, Uttar Pradesh: In an initiative to support the restoration of the Ganga River, WWF-India, in collaboration with Genpact, is helping 20,000 wheat farmers in the Chambal–Yamuna-Ganga River Basin in Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, to adopt improved agriculture water management practices.
A guiding document titled Climate-informed Package of Practices (PoP) for Wheat Crop was released on 27 November 2025, during the Kasganj District Ganga Committee meeting at the District Headquarters in Kasganj, Uttar Pradesh, by Shri Virendra Singh, Chief Development Officer – Kasganj, and Shri Sanjeev Kumar, Divisional Forest Officer - Kasganj, along with other members of the Committee. This guiding document provides details of sustainable practices that focus on reducing water use for irrigation, using locally made organic fertilisers for improving soil health and, hence, supporting better crop yield.
The key practices in Climate-informed Package of Practices (PoP) for Wheat Crop for farmers include:
- Optimising irrigation-related water application for conserving freshwater resources.
- Using home-made organic fertilisers and bio-pesticides to reduce chemical load and enhance soil health.
- Improving crop productivity while safeguarding soil health.
WWF-India will begin sharing the newly developed PoP with more than 20,000 farmers as they begin sowing wheat for the Rabi (winter) season, to build their capacity and knowledge.
This effort is part of an ongoing multi-stakeholder initiative, including the Uttar Pradesh Irrigation and Water Resources Department and the Kasganj District Administration, to rejuvenate the Kali River — an important tributary of the Ganga — and nearby wetlands, protecting freshwater ecosystems while supporting farming livelihoods.
Speaking on the occasion, Shri Virendra Singh, Chief Development Officer – Kasganj, said, “The PoP will help to increase awareness among the district’s farmers on conserving freshwater resources while also promoting organic farming.”
WWF-India‘s partnership with Genpact builds on a larger initiative, launched in October 2024 to rejuvenate the Chambal–Yamuna River system, which supports ecological health of the Ganga River system — home to globally significant populations of gharials and the national aquatic animal, the Ganges river dolphin. Through this programme, WWF-India and Genpact aim to benefit around 50,000 farmers, conserve an ecologically important landscape and key species, and demonstrate sustainable water-management practices in agriculture.
