Presentations 2016

Experiences of Participatory Irrigation Managementin the APWELL Project

AP & TS Community Based Tank Management Project-SPIL

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The Andhra Pradesh Ground Water Bore well Irrigation Schemes (APWELL) project was initiated in mid nineties in the erstwhile state of Andhra Pradesh in India with financial assistance from the Netherlands Government. The project was executed by the Andhra Pradesh State Irrigation Development Corporation (APSIDC) of the Ministry of Irrigation with technical assistance from by a consortium led by ARCADIS-Euroconsult (Netherlands). The project with the construction and operation of sustainable small scale bore wells was implemented in 7 drought prone districts of the state and a total of 4476 wells have been drilled, of which 3460 successful wells with more than 1500 GPH were commissioned. The project covered around 14,000 ha of irrigated agriculture in 370 villages, involving 14,500 small and marginal farmers organized into Water User Groups (WUGs) and Borewell User Associations (BUAs). All the activities were implemented through APSIDC, in partnership with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and various line departments at district level.Although the primary objectives of APWELL were promoting rural groundwater development, a project assessment showed that due to the introduction of micro-irrigation practices:• Groundwater use had become more efficient• Crops had diversified towards less water-consuming types, with crop yields and agricultural incomes increasing• Felling of trees and deforestation had decreased• Employment for landless had increased, with poverty being reduced• Migration from the land had stopped even reversed• Land values had tripled and the social status of farmers increased.The key innovation was of the concept and practice of Participatory Hydrological Monitoring (PHM) – with the training of some 3,450 Water User Groups, 600 Female Self-Help Groups and 250 Groundwater (Bore well) Users Associations.The impacts of project in strengthening the village institutions, improving the extension network and enhancing the skills of water, gender balance, increased agricultural productivity, adoption of proper water management practices, hydrological monitoring, improved cropping patterns, and environmentally sound interventions in resource conservation will be presented. The participatory irrigation management process in the APWELL project has demonstrated that farmer participation in group irrigation management is viable and relevant with empowerment of women in participating irrigated agriculture. Recent significant observations in the field will be presented.