Part III

Present Status of the Schemes

     The EEC assistance to the Kerala Minor Irrigation Project ceased on December 2000. An assessment as to the present status of the completed EEC assisted Minor Irrigation Schemes was undertaken by the Evaluation Division of the State Planning Board. A representative sample of M. I. Schemes was drawn from those completed schemes where final monitoring surveys were conducted during 1999-2000. Out of 45 completed M. I. Schemes, 23 of them were selected for the assessment. Of these 12 are Tank schemes and 11 are VCBs.. The methodology adopted was group discussions by the Officers of the State Planning Board with the representatives of the Beneficiary Farmers Association and other fellow farmers/ knowledgeable persons in the scheme areas using a structured questionnaire specially designed for the purpose. The group discussions and physical verification of M. I. Schemes was held during the months of December 2001 and January & February 2002. The representatives of BFA in two more tank schemes viz. Pudusserykulam in Thiruvananthapuram and Kadalichira in Thrissur were also contacted over telephone.

Findings

1. Ayacut

     There has been no change in the total ayacut of selected Minor Irrigation Schemes.

     Majority of the tribals in the State is residing in rural areas (96.51%). Agriculture sector provides them with the main means of livelihood. Among the workers, 55.47% depends on agriculture and 16.66 % constitute cultivators and the remaining are distributed in various other occupations. 44.04% of the tribal agricultural labourers are in Wayanad district.

2. Cropping Intensity

    The overall cropping intensity index in the areas of 23 selected M.I.Schemes declined marginally from 163.6 at the time of baseline survey before the implementation of the scheme to 156.2 in 2001-02. Out of 23 M.I.Schemes, increase in cropping intensity was recorded in 12 scheme areas i.e. from 176.2 at the baseline survey period to 195.1 in 2001-02. In the areas of the remaining 11 M.I. Schemes, the cropping intensity decreased from 149.9 at the baseline level to 113.7 in 2001-02. The decline in cropping intensity is mainly due to the changes in cropping pattern i.e. conversion of paddy fields for annual crops (Banana & Tapioca) as in Pathikkottu and Ayiravallikonam schemes; to tree crops and vegetables as in Nellanickal, Chempayilthodu, Nulliampazhassi and Poikayil schemes; or converted as part of the urban agglomeration process as in Puthiakavilchira. (See Table VIII).

Table VIII
Cropping Intensity Index

Variation	No. of Schemes	Cropping Intensity Index
		Baseline Survey	Impact Assessment (2001-02)
Increase	12	176.2	195.1
Decrease	11	149.9	113.7
Overall	23	163.6	156.2

3. Utilisation of Water

     Water available from the schemes have been utilised by vast majority of farmers for the cultivation of mundakan paddy and for vegetables in the punja season 2001-02 with the exception of following schemes.

1.     Puthiakavilchira where there was no water in the Tank as a consequence of the construction of motel;
   
   
2. Ayiravallikonam where there was not sufficient water in the Tank to irrigate the ayacut during the dry spells; and
   
   
3. Nulliampazhassi where farmers are not utilising water as no paddy was cultivated and the entire area has been converted to tree crops
   
   

4. Rise in Water Table

     The farmers residing near the areas of 20 M. I. Schemes reported that with the implementation of the schemes, there was rise in the water table in their wells. This in turn enabled to solve the drinking water problems of the locality in the summer season.

5. Yield of Crops

     The farmers reported that with the availability of water on completion of schemes, there has been a significant increase in the yield of mundakan paddy and other crops such as coconut, banana and tapioca depending upon the areas where they are cultivated. The increase in the productivity of mundakan paddy as compared to the baseline survey period was reported from the 18 scheme areas. (Table IX) This was possible with the use of HYV Seeds and availability of water in the ayacut. Lack of sufficient water and untimely rains at the time of harvesting are the reasons stated for the decrease in productivity of paddy in other areas.

6. Consumption of Fertilizers

     With the increase in the use of HYV seeds, consumption of chemical fertilisers and pesticides in the cultivation of paddy increased. However the farmers in the areas of 19 schemes reported that they have reduced the use of chemical fertilizers and instead increased natural manures in the cultivation of paddy. A shift in the use of chemical fertilisers to manures was noted in the scheme areas.

7. Operation& Maintenance and the Role of BFAs

     The EEC assisted Kerala Minor Irrigation schemes aimed at participatory approach in the various stages of implementation. The Beneficiary Farmers Association ( BFAs) were registered in each of the scheme areas for this purpose. As per the understanding, the schemes on completion will be formally handed over BFAs for future periodical maintenance.

     The discussions held as part of the impact assessment on the effectiveness of BFAs in the scheme areas depicts a mixed trend. The BFAs are reported to be active and effective in 14 M. I. Schemes. For instance in Valiya Eri scheme in Palakkad district BFA took the lead in approaching the Minor Irrigation Department and got repaired the channels. The Farmers Association organised common nursery and arranged labour for agricultural operations and harvesting of paddy from distant places. In Thiruvandanchira scheme of Thrissur District BFA arranged labour for agricultural operations from Palakkad.

     Lack of interest among beneficiary farmers to pool resources for maintenance, problems of leadership in BFA Committees, political interference are the main reasons for non-effectiveness of BFAs in other areas. For instance, in Kodiyattu scheme problems cropped up as to its leadership at an early stage. The construction works on the scheme was taken up by the Secretary of the BFA in that scheme. When the works were progressing and half way, the Secretary went to the Gulf for employment. The President was not interested in completing the task. Differences of opinion also persisted among farmers as to the election of Secretary of BFA. This led to the delay in the completion of the scheme. In Puthiakavilchira near Adoor, BFA is passive and not at all interested in the development of irrigation facilities. The tank constructed with EEC assistance and the planks made to regulate the flow of water were seen damaged by miscreants. Moreover the scheme is located near the urban area of Adoor and hence a major portion of the ayacut has already been converted for construction of buildings over the years. A motel of ITDC has been constructed within the tank. This is a classic example of wrong selection of schemes on urban agglomerations. Shutters of the VCB/ tank to regulate the flow of water is reported to have been lost either by theft or stolen in the M. I. Schemes of Illickalchira, Pathikkottu, Chullikkottuchira, Paichal, Edaneer, Kalavappadam and Chempayilthodu. Leakages in tanks/ channels are reported from Thiruvandanchira, Ayiravallaikonam and Poikayil. BFAs in these areas is reported to have taken no action to get them rectified.

     In certain scheme areas (e.g. Kadalichira in Thrissur) the BFA registered at the scheme level is not functioning and it was amalgamated with the Farmers Association formed at the Panchayat level as part of the People's Campaign for Ninth Plan.

8. Extension Services of Krishi Bhavan

     The services of Krishi Bhavan to the farmers include agricultural inputs (seedlings, fertilisers/ pesticides), provision of agricultural implements, technical advice on farming operations and periodical training. Demonstration plots of paddy are also identified by the Krishi Bhavan in a few scheme areas and due care was given in these plots since the inception of farming to the harvesting stage. Crop cutting surveys were also conducted to assess the accurate yield of paddy in these plots.

     The extension services are reported to be effective in the areas of 17 M.I.Schemes. The details are furnished in Table X In Kalavappadam VCB of Palakkad District, Krishi Bhavan apart from providing seedlings, fertlisers and pesticides to the farmers, also made available to the BFA threshing machine, power tiller and power sprayer. Periodical training was also imparted to the farmers.

     In contrast the Krishi Bhavan is not effective in a few scheme areas. In Puthigai, the posts of Agricultural Officer and Assistants were vacant for a long period of time. In Nulliampazhassi, Puthiakavilchira, Kodiyattu and Ayiravallikonam neither the Krishi Bhavan Officials are interfering in farmer's problems nor the farmers approach the Krishi Bhavan officials for their needs. Poikayil being an area of the muncipality of Varkala, the Krishi bhavan officials are not interested in this area.

9. Hydrological Instruments

     The M & E programme of the project envisaged indepth hydrological studies in selected Scheme areas. Hydrological equipments such as rainguage, guage plates and notches were installed for this purpose in 9 selected M. I. Schemes during the Project period. The details of hydrological instruments installed in the Scheme areas are furnished in Table XI . The Beneficiary Farmers Associations (BFAs) were entrusted with task of the upkeep and maintenance of these equipments. The guage readers were also employed and paid honorarium to undertake periodical readings as per directions of the Consultant Engineer and to forward the details to the M & E Unit for further analysis.            

     The EEC assistance to Kerala Minor Irrigation Project was over by December 2000. State Planning Board addressed to the Government to hand over these equipments to the Minor Irrigation Department for future O & M of the Schemes. The decision on this matter is still pending with Government. Taking into account the importance of hydrological studies the equipments need be maintained in the installed areas.

      At present it was reported that hydrological equipments installed with EEC funds were either tampered with / damaged by miscreants in the scheme areas. The BFAs are not seriously concerned with the maintenance of hydrological instruments. In Puthusserykulam, the Rainguage and its fencing as well as the guage plate was destroyed by the miscreants. They are now kept in the residence of the Secretary, BFA. In Chirayil, fencing wires of the rainguage was completely destroyed and the interior components of the rainguage was kept in the residence of the farmer in whose property the instrument was installed. In Puthiakavilchira, the place where the rainguage was installed is fully covered with bushes. The planks for regulating water from the tank were also destroyed by miscreants. In Kalavappadam, the guage plate installed on one side of the VCB is seen destroyed.

Improvement of Irrigation Structure

      A few schemes implemented with EEC asistance turned out to be either non-functional or problematic. Rectification or additional works are required for these M. I. Schemes due to some minor defects noticed after completion or some additional minor works are necessary to keep them sustainable and beneficial. The works to be executed are for prevention of seepage from tank, rectification of leakage in D/s or U/s of sluices, to provide retaining walls, replacement of wooden structures etc. Table XII given below gives an account of the nature of works to be executed in a few schemes:

Table XII
Works to be Executed in Completed Schemes

Scheme	Details of works to be executed
Chempakamangalam	Prevention of seepage from the tank
Muringottukonam	To rectify leakage in the D/s of sluice
Poikayil	To rectify the leakage seen in the U/s of sluice
Puthusserykulam	To provide retaining wall to protect the sides
Mullottudam	To prevent leakage in the existing tank
Pallippady	To rectify the leakage
Kunnilchira	To rectify the small portion of damaged retaining wall D/s of VCB
Ramallurthodu	To replace the damaged wooden planks
Poomangalam weir	To rectify and construct side protection works

Source: Minutes of the Steering Committee Meeting of 6..5.99 and Field visits by M & E Staff.

     The farmers of Illickalchira, Valiya Eri, Perumannoor, Chempilavu, Kundamthottampadi and Chempayil-thodu reported that it is possible to increase the ayacut of these scheme areas by constructing addit-ional channels so as to tap the full potential. In Puthigai, side protection walls are required. Farmers of Edaneer demanded to raise the height of the VCB by 2 meters so that 10 more hectares of land can be irrigated.