Contents preface (VII) introduction 1—37

Table 6.8 Canal water rates (in rupees per hectare) as recommended by Padhi (24)

Sl.	Name of		Net income		Ability		Price to be charged
No.	Crop	from irrigated		to pay	Large farm		Medium		Small farm
			crop			(8.9 ha)		farm		(0.77 ha)
1.	Wheat	1210		337	368.70		292.30		207.60
2.	Oilseeds	885		147	160.80		136.40		92.40
3.	Pulses	935		108	216.60		183.70		122.50
4.	Potato	1950		610	667.30		529.00		378.00
5.	Gram	1050		290	317.30		251.50		179.90
6.	Sugarcane	1805		419	458.40		363.80		259.70
					Table 6.9 Parity indices (25)
					Index of prices				Parity index with
	Year							respect to 1954–55
			Paid by farmers	Received by farmers			base of 100
	1980–81		471.8		459.3				97.3
	1981–82		770.0		607.0				78.8
	1982–83		846.5		536.2				63.3
	1983–84		933.6		677.2				72.5

MANAGEMENT OF CANAL IRRIGATION IN INDIA

241

6.4.17. Command Area Development Programme
As per the recommendations of the Irrigation Commission, Command Area Development Authorities (CADA’s) (Sec. 1.8) were set up for the coordinated and expeditious development of command areas under medium and major projects. This programme was to include systematic programming of land consolidation, the scientific land shaping, construction of watercourses and field channels to carry water to individual fields, field drains to carry surplus water away from field, and a system of roads which will enable farmers to carry the produce to the market. Besides the above measures, adequate and timely supply of inputs (fertilisers, seeds, credit and pesticides) was to be ensured and marketing and other infrastructure facilities were to be created so that the farmers would be able to derive optimum benefits from available land and water (26). There is, however, no mention of adequate and timely supply of water which, in fact, has been implicitly assumed to be available (1). Further, in most states, CADA’s jurisdiction was confined to the downstream of the outlet. However, better main system management is the precondition for effective functioning of CADA., as is farmer’s participation and willingness to undertake on-farm development programmes. A detailed study of conditions downstream of the outlets of the Mahi-Kadana project (27) indicated that, ‘‘the wide variations in flow rate at the field level make it essentially impossible for farmers to control the application of water to a graded border. In general, the result was excess irrigation for some fields and deficient irrigation for others due to the combination of intake, slope, and flow rate. Therefore, effective management under these conditions is extremely difficult, if not impossible’’. All these suggest that the CAD programme and the main system management must work in unison to obtain maximum benefits.


6.4.18. Farmer’s Participation
The farmer forms the target group for all irrigation management and, hence, is a good source of first hand information right from the investigation to the operational stage of any irrigation system. It is, therefore, recognised that the participation of the farmer in all stages of the irrigation system would be very beneficial. Yoganarasimhan (28) has suggested farmer’s participation in the following three phases:
Phase 1 – Initiation
— Publicising the proposal, without restriction, as a promotional measure to gain popular support.
— Extending invitations for information meeting.
— Scheduling public hearing.
— Warranting the critical assessment of objections raised as well as of individual alternatives of supplementary proposals.
— Facilitating discussions and debates on proposal components and details.
— Arranging for secret ballots to be cast in preparation of final decision.
— Facilitating the nomination and election of farmer’s representatives to join working groups.
— Drafting the statutes of organisation which may only be adopted by majority vote through secret ballot.
— Imparting courage, inspiration, and resolution to farmers.
— Creating an atmosphere of trust and confidence in the feasibility of local participation.

242 IRRIGATION AND WATER RESOURCES ENGINEERING
Phase 2 – Continuation
— Establishing formal organisations of farmers.
— Recognising the roles of organisation.
— Forming joint committees charged with proposing and reviewing.
— Conducting training courses.
— Inviting contributions from farmers in the process of implementation, management, operation and maintenance, and in situations where repairs are required.
— Creating an atmosphere of collaboration and cooperation.
— Strengthening the task-oriented leadership based on majority group consensus and support.
Phase 3 – Perpetuation
— Assisting farmers to maintain their level of participation and increase its intensity.
— Relating their duties to improve their socio-economic status.
— Monitoring the performance of programmes to generate feedback into assistance and instruction.
— Inducing farmers to actively participate in the management through unreserved recognition of their achievements.

19.