Study on the performance of selected double lifting irrigation schemes of BADC

Abstract

Keeping the national priority in the perspective and consistent with its new role and old experience, BADe has been implementing the project, "Expansion of Irrigation through Utilization of Surface Water by Double Lifting (1st Phase)". The double lifting system uses floating pumps to divert the flow of perennial sources into smaller rivers, canals, etc. making suitable provision for heading up the water for secondary Iifling. The secondary lifting of irrigation water are performed by smaller capacity LLPs owned by the farmers. The current study focused on performance evaluation of ten schemes under the Double Lifting Irrigation Project (DUP). Five of the schemes are fully double lifting, two with partial double lifling and three without secondary lifling. Their performances were analyzed on the basis of selected agricultural, socio-economic, technical and institutional indicators. From the long-tcrm data of the floating pump projects, timc variation of performance indicators were also studied. The area' irrigated per cusec of the schemes under consideration increased every year since the inception of the DUP. Fully double lifting schemes performed better (28%) with respect to area irrigated per cusec of water compared to the schemes without secondary lifting. The O&M costs of the schemes were within 5-20% of the value of produce, which was reduced from the inception year to the following years. The performances of the fully double lifting schemes are poor in case of realization of irrigation charges by the project authority although revenue eamed from the fanners are high. During the DUP, the average financial viability of double lifting schemes are low (1.15) which is 45% lower than the schemes without secondary lifting. In the long run, the financial viability of fully double lifting schemes reduced more than the schemes with partial or no secondary lifling. The fluctuation of financial viability indicator was also higher in the fonner case. The proportion of active water users organization, expressed with the users' stake indicator was high (maximum 1 and average 0.77) in double lifting schemes, whereas in other schemes, the indicator value was less than 0.5. The performances of the fully double fully double lifting schemes under study were also good in tem1S of the beneficiary indicator. The average indicator value was 70% higher in double lifting schemes than the remaining schemes. When all the indicators are considered together for the selected DLlP schemes, the dilTerence of overall performances between the best and the worst performed schemes was about 27%. Again, double lifting schemes perfom1ed only 11% lower than the schemes without secondary lifting. During the floating pump projects (1992-95 and 1995-200 I), the area irrigated per cusec of water exhibited initially an increasing trend with time, which was followed by a gradual reduction till the end of the project. During these projects, although area irrigated per cusec of water increased, the yield was not proportionate. One of the probable reasons appears to be low performance of the irrigation committees in distributing irrigation water in larger areas. However, during the double lifting irrigation project the situation improved in 2004-05. Although farmers' benefit relative to cost has been reduced with time, yet the floating pump and double lifting projects are financially viable. From the questionnaire survey, it is obvious that the performance of the schemes and farmers benefit could be increased if some measures are taken. For that purpose, establishment of more fom1al and legal water users organization (e.g. following GPWM, 2000) and lining of primary canals and field channels are two important issues. Finally, the double lifting irrigation project with floating pumps has the potential to be sustainable only with technical assistance from the BADC.