Water Users Association and Irrigation Management - Institute for ...

Farmers in Gundur reported that improper and insufficient surface drainage causes the
water table to rise due to reduction in water draining capacities and identified this factor as
the second most important reason for land degradation. Negligence of natural drains in the
upper reaches of the sub-distributary has worsened the problem. They also mentioned that
during tilling and land levelling sometimes the eroded soils blocks the surface drainage.
The topography of this region is undulating and the natural drainage in the area seems to be
inadequate to dispose of the excess water. It is, however, interesting to note that paddy
cultivation is not seen as one of the most important causes for waterlogging and salinity in
both the villages.
Nineteen Officers from CADA and ID were asked to state the reasons for waterlogging and
salinity in the command area and their responses are presented in Figure 5.2.
Figure 5.2
Irrigation Officers' perception of causes for
waterlogging salinity (%)
Seepage from canals & leaky structures 142.1
No n-prac liS Ing 0 f night irrigatio n
C:::::==================:J. 1 68.4
Technical causes C::=:=:=:=:JI 31 .5
Lack of 0 n-farm development C:::=:=:=:=:=:::JI 42. 1
Lack of training 10 farmers ..----,15.7
Lack 0 f pro per drainage
C::====================:::JI 78.9
Under pricing of water &1U![I===============:::J173.6
Vio latio n 0 f cropping pattern
Note: Multiple responses.
··4$ 89.4
o 20 40 60 80 100
According to 89.4 percent of the officials, the dominant reason for waterlogging and
salinity in the Tungabhadra project is insufficiency of drainage infrastructure and lack of
maintenance of natural drains. They also mentioned that farmers do not provide for onfarm
drainage, which can reduce the adverse effects to a grcat extent. The next prime
reason for land degradation is violation of cropping pattern (78.9 percent). Instead of a
single season supplementary irrigation of dry crops, there is a high incidence of double
110