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

performance <strong>of</strong> irrigation systems in India. Even after almost two decades <strong>of</strong> its
existence. the CADA has not been able to meet even its basic objectives <strong>of</strong> land
de\clopmem and improvement in distribution network in the command area
especially below the outlet (Mitra. 1983. 1997: 26).
The Eighth Plan also revealed that 'the scope <strong>of</strong> CAD programmes has
turned out to be considerably narrower than originally envisaged. The progress in
terms <strong>of</strong> land improvements and drainage facilities has been meagre and so has
the effort and research involving and propagating cropping patterns and
agricultural practices for optimum use <strong>of</strong> water under the conditions prevailing in
each irrigation command" (001, 1992: 60-61).
It may also be noted that the scope <strong>of</strong> the CAD programme has been
confined mostly to construction <strong>of</strong> field channels. introduction <strong>of</strong> . Warabandi'
and land levelling. Accordingly. by the end <strong>of</strong> the Seventh Plan. an estimated 8
million ha. had been brought under ·Warabandi'. 2 million ha. had been levelled
and shaped, and field channels constructed in an area <strong>of</strong> 11.3 million ha. There
was no progress in land consolidation programmes, and in most cases,
achievements had been consistently below targets. For instance, during the
Seventh Plan, the achievements in respect <strong>of</strong> construction <strong>of</strong> field channels were
below 48 per cent and that in the case <strong>of</strong> Warabandi it was 54 per cent and only
23 per eent in the case <strong>of</strong> lal1lllevelling (001, 1992).
The data on the status uf performance in physical and tinancial terms under
various CAD programmes in India are presented in table 1.3.
20