economics of on-farm development - Institute for Social and ...

cost. This is an illustrative example as to how the irrigation policies and
programmes take twists and turns in the absence <strong>of</strong> time-bound co-ordinated
executive and operation plans.
It is important to note that while examining the impact <strong>of</strong> irrigation in the
Kallada project, this dynamics need proper understanding and interpretation,
because. the ground realities play an important role in explaining why the social
benefits <strong>of</strong> irrigation in Kerala have been far from expected levels and desired
directions. An attempt has been however. made in what follows to examine the
success <strong>of</strong> the MCS in the Kallada project, even if it is in a limited scale, based
on the field data available.
6.2.2.1 Minor Conveyance System (MCS): Operational status and impact
It appears that the enthusiasm to implement MCS in the project was apparently
very high. For instance. the command area surveyed to bring under the MCS was
much higher than the targeted area.
But. when it was translated into
implementation and operationalisation <strong>of</strong> the programme at the field level. the
story was altogether disappointing as revealed from the data presented in table
6.22. It is clear that only in 73 per cent <strong>of</strong> the area targeted for MCS
infrastructure was completed What is worse is its utilisation. The potential
utilised under MCS was ahout one third. Less than one third <strong>of</strong> the area was
handed over to the Water Users' Associations (WUAs). Based on the information
provided hy the project <strong>of</strong>ficials. it was also understood that no further work with
regard to MCS implementation was taken up during the last few years due to
financial constraints.
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