Irrigation Aditi Agrawal Iim Lucknow

Ashwamedha – Ignite Irrigation Submitted by Aditi Agrawal Indian institute of Management Lucknow

Let’s get our facts right … • Major Irrigation (surface Water) : 38% • Minor Irrigation (tanks, ground water etc.): 62% • 70% of food grain production coming from irrigated agriculture

Then what’s the problem • • • •

Dwindling water table Low productivity levels Not enough groundwater during drought years Most of the regions experience drought once in 5 years • Free electricity (making farmers irresponsible – Punjab .. Though its not just about farmers, even here students waste lot of electricity as it is “free” with 24X7 supply)

Do we have any example to follow? • Chauka System - Laporiya of Dudu block, Jaipur, Rajasthan - Village Tank – Community based rain water harvesting • Tanks in Southern States - Fell out of favor because of high maintenance requirements, corruption

The Idea • Village Tank - Degraded pasture areas (better if they are along strategic location - contour lines) to be dyked for storing rain water - Building of channels for the water to flow from other areas to the catchment area - Part of the water collected can be used for recharging the ground water

Business Model • Building village tanks - Executing the entire project for villagers for fee • Tie – up with MFIs - MFIs will provide funds to the villagers • Providing technical know-how to the villagers

References • http://www.sustainableinnovations.us/index.php?option=c om_content&task=view&id=28&Itemid=36 • http://www.iimahd.ernet.in/publications/data/2009-0308Gandhi.pdf • http://www.nourin.tsukuba.ac.jp/~tasae/2005/India.pdf • http://www.sandrp.in/irrigation/prfmnce_lrg_dams.pdf • http://www.iwmigiam.org/info/GMI-DOC/GIAM-IndiaStats.pdf • http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/B6VC64SW8B1K-1/2/c45469f03e80935a84ffc166a6a04dd2 • http://www.rainwaterharvesting.org/Rural/Improvised.htm