Kshipra Sub Basin - Asian Development Bank

Support to the National Water Mission NAPCC
Appendix 3 Kshipra Sub Basin
Figure 39: Indore Potential Evapotranspiration and Effective Rainfall
2. Water Conservation Tank Programmes
115. There are several schemes under which subsidy are provided by the government to the farmers
for construction of ponds in their fields‘ like Khet Talab Yojna, construction of small tank under Micro-
Minor irrigation, Balram Talab Yojna. The water conserved in the ponds provides irrigation to the farm
lands and effective groundwater recharge has also been observed. The objective of this scheme is to
conserve rainwater in the field for irrigation. For digging ponds under Balram Tal Yojana, every
beneficiary is given 25% subsidy, the upper limit of which is Rs 50,000. The benefit of the scheme is
given to the applicants registered after May 25, 2007. The tanks are becoming more popular. There is,
however, some reservation from smaller farmers who have to allocate scare land for the tanks. The
tanks are most effective on the areas of black cotton soils.
116. Balram Talabs are larger water tanks, which can irrigate up to 50 hectare area, the uptake has
been good with a reported 7500 tanks constructed to date. Mulching of crop fields is also becoming
popular, which helps in soil moisture conservation and high reduction of water demand by the crops.
3. Micro Irrigation
117. Micro- irrigation schemes are also becoming popular in the basin. A field study by India Institute
of Management (IIM), Indore on ‗Impact Assessment of Micro Irrigation schemes in Madhya Pradesh‘
reveals that financial benefits of micro irrigation scheme to the farmers outweigh the cost involved in
addition to big water savings. The programme started in 2008 with a 40% subsidy from central
government and initially progress was slow. The state has added a 30% subsidy for general farmers
and 40% subsidy for small farmers and since then the uptake has increased. The promotion of the drip
is being supported by the private sector suppliers; farmers are allowed to select from a list of fifty five
suppliers. A precision farming development centre has recently been established in Bhopal. The
farmers are using the drip to grow a wide range of crops including crops not normally considered so
suitable with drip. It is reported that there is no real evidence that farmers are switching their cropping.
The growth of sprinkler has exceeded drip but this is thought to be the cheaper cost of sprinkler over
drip; however, from studies the productivity of the drip is higher than the sprinkler.
118. The major benefits include:
o Water usage improved by more than 2.5 times. Water saving of about 50% observed in many
cases.
o Increase in the revenue from agriculture, about 20% reduction in labour cost.
o 30% to 50% reduction in fertilizer and pesticide usages.
o About 20% saving in power bills.
o 2-3 times increases in crop yield for many crops.
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