Preface

      Minor Irrigation Schemes are considered to be most appropriate to the peculiar topography and physical features of Kerala. They serve a large number of cultivators at a much lower cost within a short period and make water available even in isolated pockets of arable land. Moreover, these schemes does not pose any environmental problems such as forest clearance and resettlement of families residing in the proposed areas. Majority of the farm holdings in the ayacut of the Minor Irrigation Schemes are small and in the cropping pattern importance is given to the cultivation of food crops such as paddy, coconut, tapioca, banana and vegetables.

      The Kerala Minor Irrigation Project with EEC assistance was implemented by the Minor Irrigation Wing of the Irrigation Department of the State during 1994 - 2000. Altogether 245 Minor Irrigation Schemes were completed during this period. An amount of Rs. 18.90 crores was expended under the Project to create irrigation potential of 6766 ha. The present Report makes an assessment of the Kerala Minor Irrigation Project. It is divided into four parts. Part I gives an account of the Project profile and the M & E components. Part II analyses the results of the Monitoring Survey in the areas of 45 completed Minor Irrigation Schemes under the Project in 1999-2000. Part III provides the present status of the completed Minor Irrigation Schemes. In Part IV the reasons for slow pace of implementation of the Project and the failure of participatory approach to take off are analysed.

Vice Chairman,           
State Planning Board,      

Thiruvananthapuram.
Date : 05 - 06 - 02