Small Lift Irrigation System – A Big Lift Up For Farmer’s Livelihood

Introduction

Hadsar is a small village in Junnar Taluka of the Pune District, situated on the foothills of the Hadsar Fort and in the catchment of Manikdoh Dam. Lupin Human Welfare & Research Foundation (LHWRF) has implemented Tribal Development Program (Wadi Approach) with the support from NABARD during the period 2008 to 2017. Wadis are established in this villages and fruiting has also been started.

Background

Hadsar village is situated at the foothills of Hadsar fort. The entire land was rainfed even though the back water of dam was available near to their fields. There is no other water source available in the village that can bring the area under irrigation. Situation was farmers can see the water but being on upland and not having resources to install the lift irrigation system they unfortunately couldn’t use it. Farmers used to cultivate the paddy crop in the Kharif season and few farmers used to cultivate wheat & gram crops during the Rabi season due to in-situ soil moisture situations. The earnings of the farming families were not enough to meet the family requirements. These circumstances forced them to migrate to nearby places for daily wage work. About 80% farmers of the village used to migrate daily at Bankarphata; 25 km away from village, to work as a farm labour.

Intervention

Storage capacity of Manikdoh Dam is such that water is available throughout the year. However, the fields of the farmers are at higher elevations and needed water lifting mechanism to lift the water from the Dam to the field. The cost involved for this lifting mechanism was in the range of Rs 3 lac to Rs 4 lac. This huge cost was out of the reach of these farmer’s capacities. So naturally it was a no go even though there was a huge potential output for all farmers. LHWRF saw the potential of this small lift irrigation system and discussed this issue with the Village Planning Committee and the farmers of the village. LHWRF suggested them to form homogenous groups of 5-6 famers who have the land nearby and to plan the lift irrigation facility from Dam to lift the water into their respective fields. Farmers were encouraged to do the Shramdan for lying of pipeline, which reduced the cost involved in installing the LIS. The remaining cost of material (Pump, Starter, Pipe line and other accessories) was planned on 50% basis i.e. 50% from project grant and remaining 50% cash contribution from farmer user group. Farmers agreed to this proposal. In the time period of two months they collected their part of the cost as local contribution. Meanwhile technical survey was done by LHWRF for feasibility analysis. Experts from LHWRF chalked out designs and cost estimates of LIS. Total five small LIS schemes are installed in the Hadsar village brining 30 tribal farmer’s land under assured irrigation. All farmer user groups have taken the required necessary permissions from the line departments for lifting the water from dam and have a legal electric connection for power.

Outcome

Previously rainfed 65 acre land is brought under perennial irrigation. 30 farmers of five water user groups are now cultivating the crops in all seasons increasing their cropping intensity to 300%!!!! Now as per the guidance from LHWRF they have turned to high value vegetable cultivation in Rabi and summer season. The crops like Beans, Coriander, Fenugreek, Cucumber, Potato are giving the farmers desired results. Now the income from farming is something that makes difference and is being noticed.

Impact

Cropping intensity of the targeted group is increased to 300% from 100%-140%. Average annual income of the farmers is increased to Rs. 70000 to Rs. 80000 from the previous income of Rs. 25000 to Rs. 30000 per annum. This increase in income levels has stopped these farmers migration for daily wage work. Farmer’s sustainable livelihood has been created through this intervention of small LIS. Additional income from agriculture has made it possible for these farmers to start small scale Dairy and Goatry units. This will help them to create supplementary income source for their family.

Farmer’s Testimony

“I used to take paddy in Kharif season. I didn’t have water for second crop so I used to go out for labour work. After LHWRF took the meeting in our village, I and 5 of my neighbors decided to install lift system for our farms. Cost was high so it took one month to collect the money. LHWRF experts did the survey and gave us the estimates. We did the Shramdan in pipeline lying. Now I have water for Rabi and summer. I cultivated Coriander and Fenugreek, now my approximate annual income is Rs. 80,000. With this additional income I am planning to by a cow to start small scale dairy business. Thank you very much LHWRF for the help and support. We are truly indebt to you!!!”