Five lakh TN farmers to benefit from $455m project to promote climate resilient agriculture technologies

C SHIVAKUMAR @ CHENNAI:

More than five lakh farmers from the state are expected to benefit from $455 million World Bank backed Tamil Nadu Irrigated Agriculture Modernization Project to promote climate resilient agriculture technologies and increase market opportunities for small and marginal farmers.

World Bank has sanctioned $318 million earlier this month for the seven year project, which is expected to be implemented from this month and likely to be completed on June 2, 2025, said official sources. The remaining funds will be borne by the state government.

The project will rehabilitate and modernize about 4,800 irrigation tanks and 477 check dams, spread across 66 sub-basins, in delivering bulk water to irrigation systems. The project also includes Gummidipoondi, Nagariyar, Nandhiyar and Kovalam sub-basins which is part of Chennai Basin.

This comes in the wake of four per cent shortfall in availability of water to fulfill the needs of the state. The total demand for water in the state is around 49.8 billion cubic metres against total supply of 47.8 billion cubic metres.

“The gap between demand and supply in water is projected to increase to 11pc in 2020 and 17pc in 2050 unless drastic measures are taken to rectify the imbalances,” World Bank has stated.

The water crisis has hit agriculture as a result the growth of major crops has been stagnant. From 2000 to 2010, the yields of rice and sugarcane grew by less than one per cent, according to study commissioned by Tamil Nadu Planning Commission.

The project will rehabilitate and modernise irrigation infrastructure, including 4,800 tanks and 477 check dams focussing on improving bulk water delivery to irrigation system and improving water use efficiency at farm levels covering 543,000 hectare area of land in 66 sub-basins. The intervention will bring in more than 160,000 hectare area of partially irrigated lands into full irrigation, said official sources.

Paddy is the dominant crop occupying 34 percent of total cropped areas, whereas fruits and vegetables are grown on 11 percent and pulses and oilseeds on 14 percent of total cropped areas in the state. By helping farmers access modern technologies, linking them to markets, and providing post-harvest management support, the project will enable farmers to shift from a mono crop paddy system to mixed cropping including high-value crops and millets.

The project will also support smallholder producers adopt new conservation technologies such as the System of Rice Intensification (SRI) and Sustainable Sugar Initiative (SSI). They reduce average water usage by 35 percent and increase yields by 22 percent per ha. The project is expected to increase the yield of rice, maize, and pulses by 18–20 percent.

The scheme will improve farmers involvement in management and operation of irrigation system and would create 3,200 new Water Users Association.

The project will promote aquaculture in 25,000 hectare area of tanks including 10,000 hectare area long seasonal tanks (with water availability for more than 6 months) and 15000 ha short seasonal tanks (with water availability for less than 6 months). Furthermore, aquaculture will be introduced in 1000 farm ponds (100 ha), including ponds excavated by the Agriculture Engineering Department in the sub-basins under the project, primarily for rainwater harvesting and storage.

Climate-resilient fish production systems including introduction of fast-growing fish varieties,

establishment of fish hatcheries, production of low-cost, quality fish feed, promotion of suitable market links for better access to markets, and promotion of increased fishing efficiency will also be promoted by providing effective equipment.

Factfile;

1. A total of 35.2pc of TN population is dependent on agriculture for employment

2. The state is one of the driest and mots water stressed states with average annual rainfall of 925mm well below national average of 1,200mm.

3. Per capita availability of water in the state is around 750 cubic metre a year compared with national average of 2,100 cubic metre

4. The Tamil Nadu Irrigated Agriculture Modernization Project will rehabilitate and modernise irrigation infrastructure, including 4,800 tanks and 477 check dams focussing on improving bulk water delivery to irrigation system and improving water use efficiency at farm levels covering 543,000 hectare area of land in 66 sub-basins.