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

I
In Gundur, while the availability of fertilizers is not a problem, knowledge about its
optimal and timely use is lacking. As reported by a review expressing fertilizer and
environmental concerns, "In the developing countries, the principle cause of environmental
etlects is unscientitic fertilizer practices and not excessively high rates of application"
(Rustagi & Desai 1993). Overuse of Nitrogen could lead to more pest incidence. On the
other hand, under-use of phosphorous and potassium could deplete the natural nutrient
contents of thc soils that could lead to degradation.
Hagedal farmers see poor maintenance of infrastructure as the second most senous
constraint on crop production. According to them, the waterlogging and salinity problems
are mainly due to lack of maintenance of sub distributaries and canals (see Table 5.7). The
canals and other structures are in a bad shape with high levels of seepage and heavy weed
growth so that the tail end farmers cut canal bunds to take water directly. Fanners do not
maintain structures, as there is no WUA in the village. They blame each other and the
agency for the lack of maintenance.
Soils in the study area, which were fertile, are now subjected to different degrees of
degradation. For fanners in both the villages, salinity and waterlogging are most serious
constraints. It is noticed in Gundur that keeping the land fallow, which used to be the most
widespread strategy for maintaining fertility, has been reduced and is often only used
because there is insufficient labor or draught power to cultivate the land. However, the
maintenance of infrastructure and natural drains and water distribution is well taken care of
by the WUA. This helps in achieving conveyance efficiency and field application
efficiency. In Hagedal, where there is no WUA, several factors have triggered the problems
of waterlogging and salinity. The fanners, however, have not realized the importance of
collective action II! because of vested interests. Maintaining natural drains and land
reclamation activities were by and large ignored by CADA. Hence it has failed to fully
address the problems faced by fanners in the study area.
II,
The various reasons for the Jack of coordination among farmers are discussed in detail in the previous
chapter.
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