DIAGNOSTIC AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF BHIMSAGAR IRRIGATION SCHEMEJitendra Rajput, Ramnarayan Choudhary, Mahesh Kothari, Nadhir Al-Ansari, Dimple, Kishan Makadiya, Pradeep Kumar Singh, Nand Lal Kushwaha, Pradosh Kumar Paramguru, Ashish Rai and Lalita RanaAbstract Faulty operation and poor upkeep of irrigation infrastructures have caused low irrigation efficiency in many major and medium schemes globally. Low performance is mainly caused due to poor physical conditions and low maintenance. This study was done to carry out the diagnostic and socio-economic analysis of the Bhimsagar irrigation scheme. In the diagnostic analysis, operational problems in the entire canal network of the Bhimsagar irrigation project were assessed by conducting several field surveys and by holding farmers meeting. Agriculture development schemes in any area cause changes in the economic condition of farmers. Therefore, socio-economic analysis was done on a total of 600 families engaged in agriculture and covering 3118 persons/farmers in the schemeâs entire command area. Results revealed that water delivery and distribution system is not satisfactory. Head reach farmers utilized more water than the middle and tail end section without considering the actual crop water demand. Overall, irrigation efficiency was 27 %, emphasizing that current operational and maintenance policies should be changed to improve systems performance. Agriculture is the primary income source of people, and their living standard is inadequate. New technology adoption is rare due to poor education and knowledge on recent developments in agriculture technologies. |