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

<strong>of</strong> rainfed cropping (GOI, 1961; Thorner, 1962, Vekdem 1971, Reidinger, 1971:
109, Prasad, 1972).
The divergence between planned and actual crop patterns and between
planned 'localisation" and actual distribution <strong>of</strong> water intensive crops within the
command areas have also been widely reported (GOI, 1965; Wade 1978; Ali,
1980). Vaidyanathan (1985) considers the distributive problem as an outcome <strong>of</strong>
lack <strong>of</strong> conformity between distribution and allocation <strong>of</strong> water as envisaged in
the original project design. The assumptions, ex-ante <strong>of</strong> irrigation projects relate
to: a) availability and variability <strong>of</strong> water in the system during different seasons;
b) cropping patterns and crop water requirement in different reaches <strong>of</strong> the
command; and c) the losses in conveyance and field applications. As a matter <strong>of</strong>
fact. most <strong>of</strong> these assumptions turn out to be erroneous or inconsistent due to
non·compliance <strong>of</strong> the detailed technical and socio-economic investigations and
scrutiny, <strong>of</strong>ten because <strong>of</strong> political exigencies. Besides, physical control
structures like channels arc either not properly maintained or are non-existent,
, The problems <strong>of</strong> inequitable distribution in south Indian irrigation systems are more to
do with the specific crop pattern, generally known as 'localization' and water
distribution and management differs across regions. Whereas the annual operations <strong>of</strong>
the canal systems in west India and North India are conditioned by the supply position
in the reservoir, but deliveries are regulated on the basis <strong>of</strong> area under different crops. [n
contrast, South Indian canal commands are predominated by water intensive rice based
cropping system and water is released depending on the supply in the reservoir from a
fixed schedule at the beginning <strong>of</strong> the crop season till the maturity <strong>of</strong> the crop. Given
this, there are no codified procedures for ascertaining demand for water on a weekly or
fortnightly basis. Also, the problems are accentuated by divergence in cropping pattern
even in the head reaches. The divergence between planned and actual crop patterns and
between planned 'localization' and actual distribution <strong>of</strong> water intensive crops within
the command area has been widely reported (GOI. Planning Commission, 1965; Wade,
1978; Ali, 1980; GOAP, 1982).
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