Ways to Increase Utility of Major Irrigation Projects in Command Areas

WAYS TO INCREASE UTILITY OF

MAJOR IRRIGATION

PROJECTS IN COMMAND AREAS

A. Amarender Reddy

Anindita Sarkar

Sandra Ricart

Shaheen Akter

Copyright © 2017 by Reddy, Sarkar, Ricart and Akter.

ISBN:      Softcover      978-1-4828-8900-0

                eBook          978-1-4828-8901-7

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A. Amarender Reddy

Director (Monitoring and Evaluation)

National Institute of Agricultural Extension Management (MANAGE)

Hyderabad-30

Anindita Sarkar

Assistant Professor

Miranda House

University of Delhi

New Delhi- 07

Sandra Ricart

Postdoctoral researcher

Interuniversity Institute of Geography (Water and Territory research group)

University of Alicante

Spain

Shaheen Akter

Research Consultant (Agri Economist) UK

Ex-Professor of Economics

Shah Jalal University of Science and Technology Sylhet and

North South University Dhaka

Bangladesh

Contents

List Of Tables

List Of Figures

About The Author

Preface

List Of Photographs

Glossary Of Technical Concepts

Glossary Of Institutional Concepts

Summary

Chapter I Introduction And Methodology

1.1   Introduction

1.2   Objectives

1.3   Design Of The Study And Methodology

Chapter II Contextualising And Investigating The Paradigm Shift In Managing Major Irrigation Projects In India

2.1   Irrigation Systems Management And Governance

2.2   Historical Background Of Need For Pim And Paradigm Shift In Indian Irrigation

2.3   Evolution And Implementation Of Participatory Irrigation Management In India

2.4   Functioning Of Wuas Under Pim And Their Evaluation: State-Of-The-Art

2.5   Common Guidelines For A Successful Implementation Of Wuas

Chapter III Introduction To The Irrigation Projects

3.1   Kc Canal Modernisation Project

3.2   Upper Kolab Irrigation Project

3.3   Upper Indravati Irrigation Project

3.4   Rengali Irrigation Project

3.5   Rajghat Canal Irrigation Project

Chapter IV Strengthening Of Farmers And Water Users Associations (Wuas)

4.1   Entry Point Activities Of Kc Canal

4.2   Entry Point Activities Of Wua (Ukip)

4.3   Entry Point Activities Of Radha Krishna Wua Uiip

4.4   Entry Point Activities Of Rengali

Chapter V Alternate Income

5.1   Dairy Development

5.2   Livelihood Improvement

Chapter VI Efficient Water Utilisation

6.1   Scada In Rajghat Irrigation Project

6.2   Wua Strengthening

Chapter VII Risk Mitigation

7.1   Malaria Mitigation Measures

7.2   Integrated Vector Control Programme

7.3   Information, Education And Communication (Iec) Activities

Chapter VIII Conclusion And Policy Directions

8.1   Good Practices Identified And Recommended For Other Projects

8.2   Future Directions

References

LIST OF TABLES

Table 1: Rationale of Farmer Managed Irrigation Projects

Table 2. State-wise enactment of new acts and amendments to the existing Irrigation Act

Table 3. Number and Coverage of State Water Users Associations

Table 4. A summary of different activities by NGO (APARD) in Model Farms

Table 5: Water Users Associations Rating: All Projects

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 1. India Map showing selected Irrigation Projects

Figure 2. The Organisational Structure of Chak (Water User Associations) committees

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

A Amarender Reddy is Director (Monitoring and Evaluation) at National Institute of Agricultural Extension Management (MANAGE), Hyderabad. Prior to this he was principal scientist (agricultural economics) with ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute (ICAR-IARI), India. He also worked with Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research (CGIAR-ICRISAT, Hyderabad), Administrative Staff College of India (ASCI, Hyderabad), Bankers Institute of Rural Development (BIRD, Lucknow) and Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA, New Delhi). He is consultant for planning commission, government of India, and international organizations like Japanese Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) on economic development and planning.

Dr. Anindita Sarkar is an Assistant Professor for Geography at Miranda House, University of Delhi, India, for more than twelve years. She has been actively involved in applied research through a series of consultancies and has lead government-funded research projects. Her research areas pertain to agricultural sustainability, natural resource management, groundwater markets, water management, rural livelihoods, gender and water-food-energy nexus.

Sandra Ricart has her PhD in Experimental Sciences and Sustainability (Geography) by the University of Girona (Spain) and is postdoctoral researcher at Interuniversity Institute of Geography (University of Alicante). Her research interests include the management of multifunctional irrigation systems and modelling stakeholder’ interests from decision-making processes and good governance.

Shaheen Akter has her PhD in agricultural economics from London University and is presently working as an independent research consultant being associated with the Technology and Management Centre for development in the Oxford University’s Department of International Development with research interests in a wide range of development. Prior to this, she worked in various capacities at the Shahjalal University of Science and Technology Bangladesh, the North South University Bangladesh and the Papua New Guinea University of Technology.

PREFACE

Most of the large irrigation projects are suffering from underutilisation of irrigation potential created at the time of project planning. Maximisation of capacity utilisation of irrigation projects by rehabilitating existing irrigation systems, utilising limited water resources’ efficiently and ensuring equitable distribution of water supply is more important under the circumstances of budgetary constraints. There is a potential for increasing efficiency by at least 20-30% in the existing irrigation projects with improvements in managerial practices. This will further increase total irrigated area by another 30 million hectares from the existing 100 million hectares. Value added activities like the promotion of Water Users Associations (WUAs), propagation of SRI rice cultivation, lining of irrigation canals and field channels were introduced in many irrigation projects to increase irrigation efficiency and to improve farmers’ incomes.

Irrigation sector is in an acute need for institutional and price reforms to enable farmers to participate in the management of these irrigation projects. Although main canals are maintained well, distribution of water and the maintenance of canals below the distributary level are in worst condition. These can be handed over to farmers for maintenance, who also collect charges for water amongst themselves. This Participatory Irrigation Management (PIM) approach has the potential of revitalising Indian canal irrigation systems, if implemented with the right spirit. Management of the irrigation projects should focus on increasing agricultural production, farmers’ income and to improve the livelihood of farmers. It is important to strengthen WUAs through entry point activities for capacity building, SRI rice cultivation, WUA performance rating to understand where they stand in terms of internal governance, proving online information on different aspects of irrigation management and agricultural prices etc. This should be done with the participation of local NGOs along with active participation of Panchayati Raj institutions and government officials. Provision of support for generating alternative sources of income like dairy development and off-farm and post-harvest processing are important for livelihood Improvement. Efficient water utilisation through Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) irrigation system to real-time monitoring of entire irrigation system through remote computers, the geo-membrane lining of canals and flood and disaster management should be given high priority.

Trainings to office bearers of WUAs, distribution committees, and territorial committees according to their needs under different irrigation command areas help improving the effectiveness of the irrigation projects. Improving the knowledge of managing water flows, the leadership of WUAs, conducting regular meetings and focus groups sessions with key stakeholders, the maintenance of records and accounts of WUAs and some technical aspects like the suitable management practices in agriculture, crop management and means to optimise water use are important.

Regular elections for WUAs and the possible unanimous election of the president of WUAs are encouraged to reduce conflicts among farmers. Efforts to make WUAs financially viable through initial grants from the project on per hectare basis, share in irrigation charges incentives for timely payment of water charges, fee from hiring of farm implements and granting of small contracts to WUAs related to repair of canals, cleaning of field channels in that particular locality gives good results in participatory approach. Nurturing of strong local NGOs and enthusiastic local engineers are important for effective implementation of government programmes and to reach the target population. Regular meetings and also the involvement of WUAs in broader village development works (facilitated by implementing agency such as dairy and fisheries development or tribal development corporation) will get broader support from non-members for irrigation development like laying field channels etc. It will also help mobilising labour and funds for minor works like maintenance and repair of field channels. The office bearers should also maintain office records including minute books, technical documents relating to SRI cultivation, water flow information, information about members’ economic activities, crop-related information, water collection list, voters’ list and command area’s geographical data and even computers with internet for delivering online information to the villagers on nominal fee basis. This will enhance mutual trust among different stakeholders including office bearers of WUAs and members of WUAs and also with Command Area Development Authority (CADA) and implementing agency.

Preparation of micro-plans by considering local resources and water availability from the project for improvement of livelihood should be done with the help of local NGOs. WUAs should implement the livelihood action plans to choose better cropping pattern and increased alternative sources of income like dairy and fisheries. Resolving conflict in water sharing between head-reach and tail-end farmers, through innovative methods like releasing water first to tail-end farmers, then to middle-reach and at last to head-reach farmers is a key for system-wide impacts. Maintaining custom hiring centres by WUAs to hire out implements and services for user charges will not only help farmers but also increase income sources to WUAs. Farmers are in dire need for information on improved seed availability, availability of irrigation water, agricultural produce prices and market trends. Such information can be provided through WUAs.

In the command areas, there is a need for promotion of regular sources of income to supplement seasonal agricultural income. WUAs can promote dairy cooperatives, milk-chilling centres, milk collection centres and other off-farm incomes to encourage alternative sources of income among members. It provides regular income for farmers and reduces risk in household incomes. Encouraging off-farm income sources like sheep rearing, fisheries, piggery, sericulture, apiculture, jaggery-making units etc. will make villages vibrant. It will help not only an increase in incomes but also reduce risk. To market different products, market yards have to be upgraded with the construction of warehouses with proper infrastructure for grading and price discovery.

Irrigation project management can use SCADA to increase precision in water management. SCADA is a totally computerised system, which monitors and controls entire sites (water flow from the main canal, distributaries, minors) through capturing the digital images across large areas of water supply for real time control of water flow. This will give instant information over water flows at the major canal, distributaries and minors through automation and computerisation improve precision in applying irrigation water, which can facilitate volumetric based pricing of water at WUAs level. This will enhance water conveyance efficiency at distributaries level and water use efficiency at field level.

The geomembrane lining on canals will reduce seepage loss of water. Geomembrane lining, a material that prevents water percolation in the irrigation canal is used to maximise the utility of available water. It is more useful in sandy soils where water losses can be reduced by about 30 to 40% depending upon the soil type.

The most common risks in command areas are flooding of the villages and submergence of standing crops due to overflow of water, with the consequent spread of communicable diseases like malaria, shortage of clean water for drinking and loss of life and damage to the dam. Proper contingency plans need to be prepared for mitigating the adverse effects of these risks. Full utilisation of the irrigation potential created under different irrigation systems is a cost effective way of increasing agricultural production, incomes and food security rather than to go for investment in new high-cost projects. There is a potential of increasing efficiency by at