PERFORMANCE OF FARM LEVEL IRRIGATION A SOCIO ECONOMIC EMPIRICAL STUDY

Abstract

The present study is intended to analyse the technical knowledge and farmer's behaviour in irrigation water management, their problems and solutions pertaining to it. It has been carried out with the intention of generating base line data on performance of irrigation system with special reference to socio-economic conditions. The data was collected from different groups of farmers located in different reaches of Lakhnauta minor. Out of 11 (eleven) inhabited villages in the area under study, two villages were randomly selected for the study, representing the whole area and finally 101 farmers were randomly selected giving due consideration to different size of holdings, i.e. 32 number of marginal farmers, 28 small, 24 medium and 17 number of large farmers. The .data were collected in respect of family composition, status of education, operational holdings, operational cost and returns of the important crops, manipulation of system, conflicts and farmer's knowledge & perception about irrigation problems, decision making, farmers satisfaction with canal water, their problems and solutions and role of intitutional services etc. viii For collection of data, an Intensive Survey Method was adopted. The methodology adopted in carrying out investigations consists sampling technique, tabular and empirical analysis (by fitting production function of Cobb-Douglas or power type) of the collected data: and finally presentation and interpretation of the collected data and processing of the data. The data collection required repeated visits and personal interviews with the farmers. The data were primarily collected by using questionaire and schedules. The secondary data were collected from Kisan Cooperative Society and Punjab National Bank at Jhabrera and also from Narson Block Development Office (B.D.O.), District Hardwar. Since water and land are two crucial elements in developmental planning, it is essential to resort to foresighted, synchronised and scientific use of these resources and availability facilities to boost the national economy by better planning, efficient management, timely monitoring and evaluation of the achievements. The scarce availability of resources and financial constraints make the employment of the latest techniques of irrigation imperative. The main objective of the study is to monitor farmer's reactions to different resources envisaged for improving the irrigation system for achieving greater food production. This study would also be useful as a management ix tool for knowing the general and local socio-economic problems of the farmers pertaining to the maintenance and regulation of the existing system and ways and means of improving it, so as to make it more useful and effective to the farmers. In other words, it is hoped that, enhanced agricultural production will bring other social benefits such as educational facilities commensurate with socio-economic needs, improved health and larger opportunities for gainful employment to users in an era of material prosperity, giving meaningful direction to development. • It is with this end view that present study has been undertaken and results arrived at are compiled in this dissertation. It is fervently hoped that all of these will help in future planning, implementation of development activities and enhancing social welfare by paving the way for further structural development in the study area.