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

according to the conventional basin irrigation method. As the existing coconut
palms are <strong>of</strong> the traditional variety, an important step is needed to initiate a
massive replanting programme for coconut with HYY planting, coupled with
R&D support. Crops like banana, arecanut, vegetable, tapioca, may also be
brought under irrigation with the redesign intended for coconut.
7,3.4 Financial constraints
The major financial constraints in the irrigation projects in Kerala have already
been discussed in detail in Chapter 4. These constraints mostly relate to
inefficient financial management by the Irrigation Department in the state, which
have resulted in gross under-utilisation <strong>of</strong> irrigation potential in irrigation
projects, time and cost overruns, thin spread <strong>of</strong> financial resources over an array
<strong>of</strong> irrigation schemes, etc.
The state government has already initiated several programmes to
improve water use efficiency in the old generation projects through the nt:w
programme <strong>of</strong> revamping and consolidation. A serious problem in which Kallada
irrigation project, selected for the study is that the project has not been
commissioned fully even after 40 years. The Minor Conveyance System (MCS)
meant for efficient water distribution in the command area is almost defunct and
its replacement cost today would be more than the original cost <strong>of</strong> the irrigation
project. Given these operational constraints, the efficiency <strong>of</strong> the irrigation
system remains questionable. An amount <strong>of</strong> Rs. 907 lakhs is envisaged for
completing the essential works in the Kallada project to convey water to the
fields during the period 1999-2000.
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