PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT OF IRRIGATION SYSTEM A CASE STUDY OF MAHAKALI PROJECT IN NEPAL

Abstract

The irrigation system performance now a days generates considerable interest in government agencies associated with Irrigation development, funding agency and the water users. The good management of water has always been recognized as an important components of successful irrigation over the World .Irrigation water is' considered as prime limiting factor for crop production. Necessity of integrated and scientific Management of irrigation to achieve optimum utilization of created potential has now been fully realized. In many large projects, it is found that the potential created are not fully utilized . Quite often many. irrigation projects has failed to meet the defined objective. This may be due to unscientific operation, faulty water distribution methods , improper irrigation scheduling, poor Maintenance of canal network system , skew socio-economic condition and mostly duet lack of farmers participation . With the above consideration in mind, a case study has been under taken for Mahakali Irrigation Project (stage-1) of Nepal . The performance study has been under taken in the command area of the project to examine whether the project is serving its defined objective or not. The existing practice is to be studied from , view points of water use agricultural production, water supply and demand, joint management and socio-economic aspects of farmers by making use of available data and 'methods. This study may provide the understanding of present status of fulfillment of the objective of the project as well as necessary improvement and modification needed for optimal use of water resources