Impact of on-farm water management research on the performance of a gravity irrigation system in Bangladesh

Abstract

Irrigation coverage increased in the middle and tailend tertiaries in the monsoon season due to proper monitoring, allocation and equitable distribution of water. Farmers used to apply about 40% more water than actually needed for rice cultivation. After a demonstration of water-saving techniques, the farmers applied an optimum amount of water for growing rice. Land productivity in the tailend areas of the irrigation system can be increased by an alternative water management approach. About 6.0 t/ha rice can be obtained from timely grown monsoon rice in those areas, where wet season rice can not be grown due to shortage of water. Before 1982, only a few farmers used to grow non-rice crops in the project area. Field demonstration of the selected non-rice crops encouraged them to grow those crops in dry season. Adoption of non-rice crops was increased from almost nil to about 50%. The farmers could not go for a proper production plan due to an erratic and uncertain pumping schedule. A fixed starting and suspension date, which will not change from year to year, will be followed in productive use of water. Consequently, it will create pump suspension opportunities for about 30–40 days during June to August and thus a pump operation cost of Tk. 400 000 or US$ 11 500 per day will be saved.