EVALUATION OF KAMTHI LIFT IRRIGATION SCHEME IN TAWA PROJECT (M.P.)

Abstract

Lift Irrigation is one of the most popular method through which canal water ould be 'released and exploited to provide irrigation on small scale basis. By way of effective control over irrigation water to the farmers, the lift provides a basic and critical input of irri-gation water for development of agriculture in the study areas. This can bring a great charge in the economic condition of the farmers and the region as well. The present study is an attempt to analyse and evaluate empirically the costs and returns of different components of Kamthi Lift Irrigation Project and consequently attempt has been made to evaluate its economic performance. It is estimated that on completion of the project in 1989 an additional area of 217 ha adjacent to the command area of R.B.C. system of Tawa Project would be brought under irrigation. The data were collected from 2 villages through a set of schedules/questionnaire in respect of size and number of hold-ings, family composition, land use pattern, capital costs, cropping pattern, cos` of cultivation, education, recreation, health status and existing infrastructure facilities in the area. This can be used for future planning and raising the social status, of the people which may be used for the upliftment of farmers of Kamthi and Tekapar villages. This may prove instru-mental in improving the level of weaker sections above poverty line. The study thus, covers the economic evaluation of Kamthi Lift Irrigation, which limits its scope through working out the costs and returns of important crops. Besides, production function analysis has been attempted to evaluate the resource use.