As Saudi capital Riyadh gets ready to host the Conference of the Parties (COP16) of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), Dr Osama Faqeeha, Deputy Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture, has praised India’s efforts on combating land degradation and drought.  Dr Faqeeha, who is also an advisor to the UNCCD COP16 Presidency, in an email interview, mentioned the “success stories” from Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh. “For instance, in Rajasthan’s Lapodia village, the revival of traditional water harvesting systems has not only raised water tables but also regenerated degraded grasslands, inspiring over 50 neighbouring villages to adopt similar practices,” he said. Lapodia village today stands out like a green oasis in Rajasthan. This village, with a little over 300 households is just two hours from state capital Jaipur, transformed itself into a drought-proof village mostly through the revival of traditional water-harvesting structures. Highlighting another Indian success story, Dr Faqeeha spoke about “the remarkable transformation achieved by Renuka Bio Farms in Andhra Pradesh’s Tirupati district”. “It shows how combining traditional wisdom with modern techniques …