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

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potential in the state is 6.59 Cu. km, <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> which the net utilisati<strong>on</strong> was <strong>on</strong>ly 1.01<br />

Cu. km (15.32 %) (CWe. 1994)<br />

1.4.1 Pre-independence period<br />

Prior to independence. the potential role <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> irrigati<strong>on</strong> in agricultural <strong>development</strong><br />

was not well recognised in Kerala; thus, Kerala does not have a very l<strong>on</strong>g history<br />

<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> evoluti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> irrigati<strong>on</strong> systems. In<strong>for</strong>mati<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> the gro'W1h <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> irrigati<strong>on</strong><br />

facilities in Kerala during the pre-independence period either in terms <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the<br />

projects or area irrigated <strong>and</strong> the total number <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> beneficiaries is scanty (Joseph,<br />

1983: 16). The Irrigati<strong>on</strong> Commissi<strong>on</strong> has g<strong>on</strong>e further to note that prior to 1947,<br />

Kerala had no irrigati<strong>on</strong> to speak <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>. It depended <strong>on</strong> the heavy rainfall <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the<br />

South-West m<strong>on</strong>so<strong>on</strong> to raise <strong>on</strong>e or even two paddy crops in a year. In lowlying<br />

areas. which accumulated water. even a third crop could be grown (GO!,<br />

1972: 17l). This was mainly due to the noti<strong>on</strong> that Kerala is sufficiently<br />

endowed with timely m<strong>on</strong>so<strong>on</strong>. Moreover. be<strong>for</strong>e its <strong>for</strong>mati<strong>on</strong> as a separate<br />

State in 1956. Kerala comprised three independent administrative units called<br />

provinces. viz., Travancore, Cochin <strong>and</strong> Malabar with distinct political <strong>and</strong><br />

administrative cultures 12 , financial resources, outlooks <strong>and</strong> motives with different<br />

policies in respect <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>development</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> irrigati<strong>on</strong> systems lJ . Besides, there was no<br />

12 The Malayalam _ speaking Kerala was <strong>for</strong>med as a State in 1956 when most <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the<br />

Indian states were reorganised <strong>on</strong> linguistic basis. The two native princely States <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />

Travancorc <strong>and</strong> Cochin <strong>and</strong> the Malabar district illal Kasargod taluk <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the Madras<br />

Presidency <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> British India were united to <strong>for</strong>m Kerala.<br />

13 Travancore had a large number <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> tanks <strong>for</strong> irrigating paddy during the early IS 'h<br />

century itself. King Marth<strong>and</strong>a Varma in the 18 'h century (1729-1758 AD) <strong>and</strong> the rulers<br />

who followed, gave special attenti<strong>on</strong> to the c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> irrigati<strong>on</strong> works <strong>and</strong> also<br />

25

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