FFS - Way Forward

Mr Saidulu has sent some paper cuttings on the success of FFS in his areas. We have been conducting the FFS for some time now. It is conceived beyond just demonstration in the traditional sense. We expect that the practices are demonstrated on one farmer land while the other about twenty observe and replicate in part of their land simultaneously. The demonstration is to be continued for at least two seasons for addressing the issues and learning from the first season. The scientists would make 4 to 5 visits at the crucial stages of the crop for proper advice. We need to understand the impact and write it down in quantifiable terms.

Sadly the University has not come forward this season for FFS and only two places the FFS were taken up. Many more operational issues are also coming up from some places.

Wherever the existing system is operational and giving results, it may continue while for other place we need to take some alternate approaches.  I propose that let us create a link between the scientists and the WUA/ DC/PC who would organise these FFS and cost can be released to them instead of University or KVK. I would need your reaction.

Sanjay

Case Studies

MAIL FROM BODHAN

Scaling up PIM at a scale matching with AP has probably no parallel in world. After the hard work of last few years the results are now showing up. As a result we have listed certain case studies and sharing them across the state. Earlier we have gone to other states to learn. Now people from other states and international organisations are visiting us to have first hand appreciation of our efforts. Nonetheless learning is a continuous phenomenon.

Yesterday I received an email from Mr K. Sriniwas DyEE Bodhan listing out the achievements in his subdivision. These achievements relate to reducing the gap ayacut through conjunctive use, setting up the offices and taking up long pending repairs through convergence with MNREGS. Good ones. I would mail it to all the SEs, TCs and also place it on our website www.apwaterreforms.in. He also requested to recongnise efforts and success of his team, identify as resource persons, send them for exposure visits in India and abroad.

There would be many more success stories like this. Can these be sent to us so that we can use them in next round of dissemination and select few more state level resource persons. Also we would develop a specific program for these resource persons for exposing them various other skills and happenings across the country and probably abroad. 

Let us strengthen the hands of those who are putting in best of their efforts and recognise their services.

Conjunctive Use

The Ground Water Department has conducted a study on ground water status, trend and quality for the command areas of SRSP, SRBC, NSPLC, NSPRC and TBP HLC and LLC. The study results are converted in to simple power point presentations and shared with the field engineers and Farmer Organisations(FO). The primary findings in case of SRSP indicate that

1. The dynamic recharge area is shallow and situated over  rock bed. As a result the command area supports the dug wells only and ground water is available at low depth bgl.
2. The analysis indicate that the recharge of the order 35-40 TMC can take place in normal monsoon years. Substantial part of it can be used for irrigation as coping mechanism in case of the surface water non availability during the subsequent seasons. This conjunctive use of ground water with surface water require further field level understanding and support. The ground water based system has much higher water use efficiency and so would be expetcted of conjunctive use.
3. The Distributory Committee wise availability and consumption of ground water, existing number of wells and possible is also made available. 

Our TC in these projects can lead the process of creating the awareness on dynamics of ground water in command and plan for crops accordingly. Those who are interested for more details can send a request through a mail or a comment on the blog to me.

Sanjay

WELCOME

It gives me great pleasure to initiate an interaction platform primarily for those involved in irrigated agriculture management in Andhra Pradesh. The blog also welcomes the views and comments from others. The blog would act as a platform for experience and knowledge sharing. Let all of us post our views on the ongoing programs of I&CAD department, interesting case studies or any related article, website or information.

Happy Blogging

Sanjay