Course Content
Crop Production (Unit 6)
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ASRB NET / SRF / Ph.D. Agronomy
Socio-Economic Aspects of On-Farm Water Management (OFWM)

On-farm water management (OFWM) refers to the planning, application, and efficient utilization of irrigation water at the farm level.
Beyond technical efficiency, water management is influenced by social structures, economic conditions, institutional frameworks, and farmer behavior.

  1. Socio-Economic Importance of OFWM
  • Equity – ensures fair distribution of water between head- and tail-end farmers.
  • Cost reduction – efficient use reduces energy (pumping), fertilizer loss, and labor costs.
  • Income stability – better irrigation scheduling → higher yield & reduced risk.
  • Employment – OFWM practices (drip, sprinkler, laser leveling) generate jobs in manufacturing, installation, and maintenance.
  • Food security – more crop per drop → sustainable production.

 

  1. Key Socio-Economic Aspects

(a) Equity in Water Distribution

  • Rotational water supply (Warabandi system in Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan).
  • Reduces conflicts between upstream and downstream farmers.

(b) Water Pricing and Cost Recovery

  • Most states charge very low irrigation fees (₹50–100/ha), leading to wastage.
  • Volumetric pricing or water metering can promote efficiency.
  • Subsidies for drip/sprinkler irrigation make them accessible to small farmers.

(c) Participatory Irrigation Management (PIM)

  • Involvement of farmers through Water User Associations (WUAs).
  • Ensures equitable supply, maintenance of canals, and conflict resolution.
  • Example: Andhra Pradesh Farmers’ Management of Irrigation Systems Act, 1997.

(d) Farmer Awareness & Training

  • Many farmers lack knowledge of critical stages of irrigation, water-saving methods, and crop-water requirements.
  • Capacity building through KVKs, NGOs, and state irrigation departments.

(e) Credit and Investment Constraints

  • Poor farmers may not afford laser land leveling, drip, sprinkler without subsidies.
  • Institutional credit and government schemes (e.g., PMKSY – Per Drop More Crop) help adoption.

(f) Gender and Social Equity

  • Women play a major role in irrigation management (especially in vegetable cultivation).
  • Equitable participation in decision-making bodies like WUAs is essential.

 

  1. Economic Benefits of OFWM
  • Laser land leveling – saves 20–25% water, increases yield 10–15%, reduces labor cost.
  • Drip irrigation – saves 30–60% water, increases yield 20–40%.
  • Sprinkler irrigation – saves 30–40% water, increases yield 15–25%.
  • System of Rice Intensification (SRI) – reduces water use by 25–30%, increases yield 20–25%.
  • Higher benefit–cost ratio (B:C) with efficient water use.

 

  1. Social Issues and Challenges
  • Head-tail inequity in canal commands.
  • Over-extraction of groundwater by large farmers → resource depletion.
  • Low awareness about water-saving technologies.
  • Fragmented land holdings → difficulty in implementing modern systems.
  • Conflicts over water sharing (interstate and intrastate).

 

  1. Policy and Institutional Aspects
  • National Water Policy (2012) – emphasizes water as an economic good, participatory management, and efficiency.
  • Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY) – promotes “Per Drop More Crop” through micro-irrigation.
  • Command Area Development Programme (CADP) – improves field channel efficiency and water distribution.
  • Subsidies – 45–55% for drip/sprinkler under various schemes.

 

  1. Way Forward
  • Strengthening WUAs and PIM for equitable water management.
  • Promotion of volumetric water pricing with safeguards for small farmers.
  • Capacity building – farmer training on irrigation scheduling and water-saving practices.
  • Linking OFWM with climate-smart agriculture.
  • Promoting ICT tools, sensors, and remote sensing for precision irrigation at the farm level.

 

Facts on Socio-Economic Aspects of On-Farm Water Management

  • Agriculture uses ~80–85% of India’s freshwater resources.
  • Irrigation efficiency: Surface irrigation 30–40%, Sprinkler 60–70%, Drip 80–90%.
  • Laser land leveling saves 20–25% water, increases yield 10–15%, and reduces irrigation time by up to 30%.
  • Drip irrigation: saves 30–60% water, increases yield 20–40% in crops like sugarcane, cotton, fruits & vegetables.
  • Sprinkler irrigation: saves 30–40% water, increases yield 15–25% in wheat, mustard, and pulses.
  • SRI in rice: saves 25–30% irrigation water, increases yield by 20–25%.
  • Watershed management projects (e.g., Sukhomajri, Ralegan Siddhi) increased cropping intensity by 30–50% and reduced migration.
  • Waterlogging & salinity affect ~8.4 million ha in India’s canal commands, reducing farm income drastically.
  • Water User Associations (WUAs) under PIM cover ~16 million ha command area in India (but performance is uneven).
  • Government support: Under PMKSY (Per Drop More Crop), subsidy is 45–55% for micro-irrigation adoption.

 

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