Abstract
ABSTRACTMany canal irrigation systems in India are found to have poor performance. Assessment of performance is a prerequisite for its improvement and achieve the desired objective of conceiving an irrigation project. We conducted a comprehensive performance assessment of the Kaldiya irrigation project (KIP) located in Assam in the north‐eastern part of India. The project was aimed at diversification and intensification of an agricultural scenario in a command of 10 000 ha. We performed the study by assessing parameters such as agro‐economic and system performance. The parameters were changes in cropping pattern, intensity, productivity, conveyance losses, delivery efficiency, water availability at source and demand–supply studies. Primary and secondary data were collected and field studies performed. Significant improvement in productivity (> 50%) in the head, middle and tail sections was observed. However, changes in intensity and area under production were comparatively less. The system performance indicated higher conveyance loss of 0.83–5.11 lps per 100 m. The average system delivery efficiency was only 35.3%. The water availability and demand analysis indicated that 43% of the time water availability in the source is higher than the design discharge of the main canal. Based on the findings, suggestions were formulated for modernization of the project. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
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