Community Lift Irrigation Projects/ Cluster Deep Bore Wells under the scheme “Biju Krushak Vikash Yojana” – Odisha Lift Irrigation Corporation

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Case Study

Odisha Community Lift Irrigation Project

The Water Resources Department works under the Government of Odisha managing water supply and irrigation systems in the state.

Problems:

The farmers in upland areas of Odisha are majorly dependent on rainfall for the cultivation of Kharif crops. But the situation became worse during the season of Rabi crops, at the time, the region used to have had no suitable and reliable water source for irrigation purposes. The topography of the region makes it more difficult for the farmers to practice conventional forms of irrigation such as flow irrigation. The farmers of the region face multiple issues due to lack of irrigation facilities, having no reliable source of water, stable water supply and lack of dedicated electrical supply for irrigation and so on. Conventionally the farmers rely on rainfed and canal irrigation and the overall irrigation efficiencies had been low.

The lack of irrigation facilities gives rise to low agricultural productivity and job loss causing outwards migration from the rural areas. The lack of reliable irrigation causes farmlands to stay fallow, This led to the land being unutilised and unproductive. The underutilisation of land led to income loss for the farmers causing financial instability. The lack of a stable water supply discourages crop diversity giving rise to ecological disturbances in the area. The major irrigation projects take a long time to be fruitful, Thus they are not useful as quick remedies to the problems at hand. The lack of dedicated electrical supply for irrigation was causing the pumping system to be unreliable and unproductive at times. Amid such problems, income of the farmers was the major concern which causes financial instability among the farmers and hence leads to distress among the farmers. 

Solutions:

Long term sustainable programs by lifting both surface and ground water through Lift Irrigation Projects (LIPs) for providing assured irrigation for all the year round to farmers in the upland areas. The irrigation was not possible through a flow irrigation approach in such upland areas of the region. The groundwater is being optimally utilized through medium deep Tube Well projects on exploration of aquifers as well as from fracture zones in hard rock areas. Irrigation has been provided with a pressurized underground pipe network with high residual head for optimal usage of natural resources. Bringing DPAP, tribal areas, agriculture production clusters under assured irrigation fold. Due to enhanced water use efficiency, agricultural production and productivity has increased. Every 1Ha CHAK has been provided with one outlet tank for equitable distribution of water thus minimizing wastage of water. Dedicated Electrical Substation to avoid low voltage and steady supply for smooth operation of energy efficient pumps thus reducing pumping hours and energy charges. The department has also introduced Pani Panchayat activities for better community participation in operation and maintenance of projects in the region. 

Outcomes:

The outcomes of the initiative and efforts put forth by the Water Resource Department have led to improvement and enhancement of the overall development of agricultural and livelihood of farmers upland areas depriving them of conventional irrigation facilities. The farmers who are socio-economically backward residing along both sides of the upland areas getting the benefits of irrigation projects as well as availing employment opportunities. Due to low gestation period, the farmers are getting early benefits of assured irrigation and hence they are able to cultivate cash crops round the year fetching them high returns and economically viable. Increase in irrigated land and irrigability all year round helped crop diversification, enabled rainfed farming, checked seasonal unemployment, restricted migration of labourers and multiplied assets. 

The focus of the project was to adopt a sustainable approach of lifting water in upland areas where the conventional flow irrigation approach was not feasible. In the project, the use of high-pressure pipes which were laid underground without affecting the land areas and its productivity but somehow it has improved the productivity of the land areas. The problem of erratic water supply has been solved by providing every 1ha CHAK with outlet tanks for equitable distribution of water to land areas. After implementation of the project, farmers started cultivating lands which were not in use for a long time and made it productive. The deployment of dedicated Electrical Substation has also been laid out to avoid low voltage and steady supply for the smooth operation of energy-efficient pumps. The farmers of the region also have imparted training to equip them to optimally use water and learn about the benefits of  crop-diversification. Employment opportunities have also been created at the panchayat level and hence skilling them for the maintenance of minor projects. Under the project, around 32,000 Community Lift Irrigation Projects have been installed and irrigation potential of 7.10 lakh hectares approximately have been created which benefitted to around 9.60 lakhs farmers approximately with Pani Panchayat activities in all 30 districts in the State. Similarly, 86,800 numbers of Cluster Deep Bore Wells have been installed and irrigation potential of 5.00 lakh hectares approximately have been created where 3.00 lakh individual beneficiaries approximately are benefitted covering 26 districts of the State. The water availability in these areas has increased impressively from 50 % to 100 %.

Challenges:

The challenge for the Water Resource Department, Government of Odisha was to manage irrigation operations on flooded irrigation systems. Another challenge was to improve the financial stability of famers by providing a better and well equipped irrigation system in the upland area where the feasibility of conventional irrigation was not there. The cost of producing crops was high for the farmers due to lack of proper irrigation system while the whole kharif season was completely dependent on either rain water or underground water which was not successful most of the time.

Innovations:

In the project, the introduction of one outlet for each hectare of command and pressurized underground pipeline both in rising main and laterally with integration of various components of systems, valves for monitoring control, the water could be delivered to the tail end of the command for adoption of Micro Irrigation for on farm irrigation. Implementation of dedicated electrical Sub-Station (Transformer), the voltage had been stabilized for smooth and efficient operation of pumps and thus reduced the hour of operation and energy charges. The project efficiency has increased substantially from 80% to 90%. Due to low gestation period, the farmers are getting early benefit of assured irrigation and they are cultivating cash crops round the year fetching them high returns and economically viable.

Opportunities:

The objective of the project has been strengthening and expanding minor lift irrigation projects which accelerated the growth of income, output and employment of small and marginal farmers in the rural areas and ensured sustainability, geographical inclusivity as also self-reliance of the farmers. Further, an assured irrigation system provided to uplands with tail end connectivity led to farmers to grow the crops all the year round, helped crop diversification, checked seasonal unemployment, restricted migration of labours, multiplied the assets among others. The increased efficiency of the project has also a point to be appreciated. The efficiency as well as the coverage of area under the irrigation project tells a success story of the Water Resources Department, Government of Odisha that made the project replicable for others. The states or the regions where feasibility of conventional flow irrigation is not feasible, must replicate and endorse the approach the Water Resource Department of Odisha has taken. This can help in achieving the goal of the Central Government of doubling the income of farmers by the end of the year 2022. The best part of the project is that it is creating employment opportunities for the local people and for this they are also imparting training so that they can handle the minor projects when required. Farmers are getting training through Water and Land Management Institute (WALMI), Deptt. Of Water Resources, Odisha for efficient and optimal use of irrigation water and crop diversification which will not only enhance their overall agricultural development but also their livelihood.

For more information, please contact:
Ms ARCHANA PATNAIK, Managing Director, Odisha Lift Irrigation Corporation -cum- Special Secretary to Govt, Deptt of Water Resources, GoO at archana.patnaik@odisha.gov.in

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