Coromandel, IICARE Foundation Join Hands for Watershed, Landscape Restoration Project in Maharashtra
Hyderabad, June 29 (TNT): Coromandel International Limited (CIL) and IICARE Foundation on Monday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to jointly implement the Jawali Integrated Watershed, Agro-Forestry, Nursery and Landscape Restoration Programme in Phaltan taluka of Maharashtra’s Satara district.
The collaboration aims to develop a scientifically designed, community-driven and scalable model for sustainable landscape management by integrating watershed development, agro-forestry, nursery development and ecological restoration, the company said in a release.
Under the agreement, IICARE Foundation will serve as the implementation and coordination partner, working with local communities, farmer groups, government institutions and technical agencies, while Coromandel will provide technical and strategic support in agronomy, soil and nutrient management, crop suitability, nursery planning, agro-forestry design and watershed interventions.
The programme will be implemented in phases.
The initial phase will focus on site validation, soil and water assessment, contour mapping, land capability studies, nursery planning, species selection and preparation of a detailed project report.
Subsequent phases will include pilot implementation, establishment of nurseries, construction of soil and water conservation structures, native plantations, agro-forestry demonstrations, farmer capacity building and development of a scalable landscape restoration model.
The project will adopt a “nursery-first” and “pilot-to-scale” approach, with emphasis on native and mixed-species plantations, groundwater recharge, soil health improvement, scientific monitoring and community participation.
Commenting on the partnership, Coromandel International Executive Director (Nutrient Business) Narayanan Vellayan said the initiative reflected the company’s commitment to sustainable agriculture and strengthening the resilience of rural ecosystems.
He said the programme aimed to create a practical and scalable model for restoring degraded landscapes by combining scientific agronomy, soil and water management with community participation.
IICARE Foundation Director Dr Santosh Bhosale said Coromandel’s technical expertise would strengthen the scientific foundation of the programme and help develop a replicable model for ecological restoration and climate-resilient agriculture across similar regions.
TNT TS
