Rainfed rice - IRRI books - International Rice Research Institute

Water Saving, Recycling and Sequential Use Technologies: A Case Study
Improving the delivery system for water stored
in a pond
Farmers often cut the embankment of ponds to divert water for irrigation
which results in heavy outflow that can destroy the earthen channels.
Water is also wasted while being transported to the fields. To minimise the
loss during delivery, round cement pipes are fixed at different heights in the
embankment of the pond and plugged. The delivery of water is controlled
by opening the hole of one delivery pipe at a time depending on the level of
water in the pond. This mechanism provides for a controlled release of
water.
Irrigation from open wells
The water from open wells in the midland region is lifted by diesel pumps.
This water is transported to the upland fields through plastic delivery pipes
without loss.
Impact
Farmers previously grew only rice in
upland and lowland fields. Ponds
and wells with water-storing
facilities have improved cropping
intensity and helped in the rearing
of fish. Thirty-five farming families
have benefitted from this experience.
Prepared by:
R.K. Singh and V.P. Singh
Crops grown in different land types
Land type Before water
harvesting
After water harvesting
Upland Rice Rice-vegetable (pea/wheat/
cauliflower/cabbage/eggplant/
coriander/potato/tomato)
Shallow
lowland
Rice Rice-wheat/tomato,
summer tomato, vegetables
Lowland Rice Rice-summer vegetables
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