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

command area has reduced the labour input and favours the rich fanners in the
matter <strong>of</strong> redistribution <strong>of</strong> benefits.
The importance <strong>of</strong> incorporating Research and Development (R&D) in the
process <strong>of</strong> irrigation development has been considered to be essential to bridge
the gap between techno-centric modem fann technology and traditional approach
<strong>of</strong> the users (farmers) <strong>of</strong> such technology (Wade, 1976; Biggs, 1981). Wade
(1976) indicates the emulative model <strong>of</strong> Chambal basin near Kota in Rajasthan,
wherein, an integrated OFD involving a full-scale reconstruction <strong>of</strong> land surfaces
and water distribution structures as well as ownership by means <strong>of</strong> consolidation
<strong>of</strong> holdings and realignment <strong>of</strong> boundaries is widely acclaimed. However, such a
model needs considerable reworking before getting replicated elsewhere. Biggs
(1981) emphasises the importance <strong>of</strong> R&D at the grass root level to monitor
irrigation works. He also proposes a formal and informal R&D for river basin
development.
Kumar (1978) examines the impact <strong>of</strong> field channels on cropping pattern,
cropping intensity, input use, farm income, elasticity <strong>of</strong> production <strong>of</strong> farm
inputs in different farms <strong>of</strong> the Hirakud canal system. Using a logarithmic
regression model with random coefficients to express the relationships between
the explanatory and dependent variables, he concludes that the field channels
have led to an overall increase <strong>of</strong> 13 per cent in the irrigated area and 9 per cent
increase in the cropping intensity. The field channels lead to a reduction in the
utilisation <strong>of</strong> family labour per acre' and also an increase in the utilisation <strong>of</strong>
casual labour.
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