ISRO working on rainwater database

The Indian Space Research Organisation is working on creating a national database that would help efforts to preserve and maximise use of rain water. The web-based database can be used by all states, ISRO Chairman G Madhavan Nair said.

He stressed on the need to focus on bio-industrial watershed development in addition to traditional land and water resources-based development to maximise farm income. "Watershed approach is the only scientific solution for conservation and management of rain-fed areas. With bio-industrial concept, we can ensure prosperity of rural people and ensure food and livelihood security," he said yesterday.

Nair said that by adding the component of agro-processing to existing components of protection of natural resources, a revolutionary change could be brought about in the situation of 'farming without profits' to 'farming with profits'.