Managing Irrigation: Challenges, Managing Irrigation: Challenges, Opportunities and Way ForwardOpportunities and Way Forward

Alok K SikkaAlok K SikkaInternational Water Management Institute

IWMI Representative‐India, New Delhi

Water for farmers…Water for farmers…

• 2 billion people depend on smallholder p p pfarming for their livelihoods

• Agriculture accounts for 70% of global freshwater withdrawals

• Climate change is likely to lead to more unpredictable rainfall

Water ScarcityWater Scarcity

Projected Water ScarcityProjected Water Scarcity‐‐20252025

Increased Incidence & Severity of Droughts Increased Incidence & Severity of Droughts Increased Incidence & Severity of Droughts Increased Incidence & Severity of Droughts D ht I id (%) i I diDrought Incidence (%) in India

Year RF Deficit

Dry reservoir/tank bedsRainfall departure from normal‐India

Year RF Deficit(Production loss) in (%)

2002 ‐19 (‐15.40) Dry wells( )

2009 ‐23 (‐4.12)

2014 ‐12 (‐3.25)

2015 14 ( 2 35)

Dry wells

200

2015 ‐14 (‐2.35)

50

100

150

200

% This year storage to last 10 years storage

% storage (MMI reservoirs) in 2009 compare to last 10 years average

Increased frequency in last decade

0AP JHAR GUJ HP KAR KRL MP CHH MAH ORI PUN RAJ TN TRP UP UTT WB

decade

Water ResourcesWater Resources• Irrigation uses 83% of water, Source                                    Quantity (BCM) 

diversion of water to agriculture expected to reduce (72% by 2025)

• Likely further reduction due to climate change

Q y ( )• Annual rainfall (1190mm)      :    4000• Estimated Utilizable water     :   1122• Surface water                            :   690

climate change• Low Irrigation Efficiency (≈38% in

MMI Projects) and 65‐70% in groundwater

• Net Irrig. Area                          :    64 Mha (44%) • Groundwater  Contribution   :    60%• Rainfed Area                             :    78 Mha (56%)

water• Attributed to inefficient

management of irrigation systems

Storage of water (BCM): World – 900

6

Storage of water (BCM): World 900North America -3600; India-253

Growth of Irrigation (source wise)Growth of Irrigation (source wise)Growth of Irrigation (source wise)Growth of Irrigation (source wise)

Irrigation potential utilised is only 89 M ha against 113 M ha I P created since Independence at a cost of RS 400,000 crores through MMI  p , g

PlanPlan‐‐wise wise Irrigation Potential Created Irrigation Potential Created & & Utilized Utilized ((MhaMha))(( ))

Out of 113.53 M ha total irrigation potential created by the  XI Plan, 47.97 M ha (42%) is from MMI projects and the remaining 65.56 Mha (58%) from minor irrigation schemes But the irrigation potential utilised is only 89 M ha, leaving a gap of 24 M haBut the irrigation potential utilised is only 89 M ha, leaving a gap of 24 M ha

Policies & Programmes in Water SectorMajor and Medium Irrigation Projects

Irrigation potential created increased from 9.72 M ha (1950 51) to 47 97 M ha (2011 12);Projects ha (1950‐51) to  47.97 M ha (2011‐12); 

Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme (AIBP)

108.21 M ha irrigational potential created  (about 77%  of UIP)

Command Area Development and Water Management Programme  

About 22 M ha covered since inception uptoMarch, 2011

Repair, Renovation and Restoration (RRR) of Water Bodies

Restoration completed in 1054 water bodies in 15 States(RRR) of Water Bodies States

Artificial Recharge to Ground Water through Dug wells

Implemented in 1180 over exploited, critical and semi‐critical blocks in 7 States.

i l i i j l i l b 20%National Water Mission Major goal to improve WUE at least by 20%

National Mission on Micro Irrigation (NMMI)

Promoting enhanced WUE

National Program on Aquifer Mapping & Management

Mapping & characterizing aquifer at 1:50000

Prime Minister Krishi Sinchayee Provide water access to each farm fieldYojana (PMKSY)

9

Bridging DemandBridging Demand‐‐Supply GapSupply Gap

• Researchers, managers, implementers and policy planners arechallenged to find out ways and means of bridging the growingdemand‐supply gap in water and agriculture and gap between IPCdemand‐supply gap in water and agriculture and gap between IPCand IPU and aging irrigation systems.

• Fundamental ways to bridge demand‐supply gap of water inagriculture are, to:• increase water supplies,• improve water productivity ‘More crop per drop’,p p y p p p ,• make economic choices• reduce water withdrawals, and make crop substitutions• demand management• demand management• co‐management of water (multiple water use)

• Environmentally benign strategies

Is there a Is there a Large Scope Large Scope for for Increasing Increasing WP? WP? 

• Large variation in WP

• A significant gap exists between the actual and maximum WP 

• Reducing the gap alone will substantially reduce additional need for irrigation water

Relationships of yield and consumptive water use (CWU) of foodgrains

4.0

5.0

4.0

5.0

1 0

2.0

3.0ie

ld (t

on/h

a)

1 0

2.0

3.0

d(m

ax y

ield

)d(C

WU

)

-1.0

0.0

1.0

0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450 500 550 600 650 700 750

CWU (mm)

Y

-1.0

0.0

1.0

Great opportunity to increase yield & WP in rainfed districts and irrigated areas with CWU below 300 mm with RWH

Source: Upali et al. (2010)

Yield Max yield function

d(max yield)/d(CWU)-100mm d(max yield)/d(mm)-200mm

300 mm with RWH 

ModernizationModernization

“Process of upgrading infrastructure, operations and management ofoperations and management of irrigation and drainage systems to sustain the water delivery servicesustain the water delivery service requirements of farmers and optimize 

d ti d t d ti it ”production and water productivity.”

Source: ‐ Lance Gore Arnaud Cauchois (ADB) Beau Freeman MikeSource:  Lance Gore, Arnaud Cauchois (ADB), Beau Freeman, Mike Chegwin (Lahmeyer), Ian Makin (IWMI), September 2015

ModernizationModernization

• Understand the real constraints – before investing– MASCOTTE – FAO guidelines on modernization of irrigation service:

• What level of water delivery service does the system currently provide?

• What hardware (infrastructure) and software (operational procedures, institutional setup, etc.) features affect this level of service?

• What improvements in the various components could make a significant difference in service delivery to users?

• Manage Irrigation Assets for long‐term performance• Manage Irrigation Assets for long‐term performance– Current practice tends towards deferred maintenance (build‐ignore‐

rehabilitate‐ignore)

– Aging irrigation infrastructure

• Expand use of ICT to improve information and decision making

Innovations Innovations –– Farm and FieldFarm and Field

• Surface irrigation often performs poorly, but:– Improved farmer knowledge and simple tools 

work;

– Laser grading and levelling can transform performance and reduce energy costs;

– Sprinkler, drip and trickle systems can reduce labour, fertilizer and water requirements., q

• On‐farm storage and/or access to groundwater enables farmers to get b f f i i ibetter performance from irrigation services

Capacity building for farmers is essentialCapacity building for farmers is essentialCapacity building for farmers is essentialCapacity building for farmers is essential

Modernizing  Irrigation ServicesModernizing  Irrigation Servicesfort

Modern management:

• Agree cropping pattern with water users at start of season based on available water supply

Additional effort required to move from one level to the next

gemen

t eff

Supply orientated management:

supply• Schedule to match demands• Measure and monitor allocations• Assess performance

Man

ag

Simple flood irrigation:

Supply orientated management:

• Fix cropping at design stage• Enforce designed cropping pattern• Control by level, maintain FSL in main canals

Time

• Construct channels• Flood land Burton, Martin. 2011. Water Management in India: Options for Change. Presentation at the 2011 FAO 

Investment Days Meeting, December 15‐17.

Improving  Irrigation PerformanceImproving  Irrigation Performance

• Requires:

– strengthening links between main system and farmers'strengthening links between main system and farmers  fields

– problems identified by Chambers in 1980s ‐Still is anproblems identified by Chambers in 1980s  Still is an issue

– Results 

• Expansion of groundwater use and local storage• Poor cost recovery, etc.Poor cost recovery, etc.

• Lack of maintenance

Improving  Irrigation PerformanceImproving  Irrigation Performance

• But the solutions are not isolated in system O&M, but require:

– Leadership to: 

• Set and support clear objectives for systemSet and support clear objectives for system managers and operators

• Provide timely resources for operations• Provide timely resources for operations, maintenance and repairs

R d f f• Rewards for performance

Closing Gap between Potential Created and Closing Gap between Potential Created and UtilizedUtilizedUtilizedUtilized

Technology for system operation can:• Provide real‐time data• Remote operations• Use of space technology and ICT in

irrigation management• Dialogic tools (based on DSS) for

• Remote operations • Improved access to information• Offer new tools for manual system 

tilinkage of canal operation and on‐farm water management

• Innovative ways of managing canalwater through PPP service

operations

water through PPP, serviceproviders, farmers’ company, orfederating WUAs into a PrivateCompanyCompany

• Bringing pressurized irrigation/micro‐irrigation as adjunct withcanals

Narmada Canal Project, Rajasthan: An Efficient Narmada Canal Project, Rajasthan: An Efficient Canal fed pressurized Irrigation SystemCanal fed pressurized Irrigation System

cannot be displayed. Your computer may not have enough memory to open the image, or the image may have been corrupted. Restart your computer, and then open the file again. If the red x still appears, you may have to delete the image and then insert it again.

Canal fed pressurized Irrigation SystemCanal fed pressurized Irrigation System

Isabgol Crop

Pump house

Sump wellIsabgol Crop

DIGGI Canal outlet

Canal

W i b 45 49% A ll i ll b i f i i iWater saving by 45‐49%: An overall environmentally benign system of irrigation 

Participatory Irrigation Management (PIM)Participatory Irrigation Management (PIM)

PIM/water users association ‐ its all about people, institutions and governance 

Use of Smart ICT for Efficient Irrigation Use of Smart ICT for Efficient Irrigation • ICT based technologies integrating• ICT‐based technologies integrating 

weather, water and crop related information and advice

• The project uses satellite imagery• The project uses satellite imagery, combined with other data, to produce practical agricultural information for ffarmers. 

• Complex water and crop growth models are run for each field using this 

bi i f d d llicombination of data and satellite imagery, producing specific, customized advisories for each farmer 

• Smart ICT project implemented in three countries in Africa – Ethiopia, Sudan and Egypt

Smart Low Cost TechnologySmart Low Cost Technology‐‐wetting front wetting front DetectorsDetectors• A mechanical device to monitor the 

wetting front• Iinstallation depth depends on the 

application, soil & crop type

Simple technical advisory on water application will lead to a reduction in water demand and efficient 

use of inputsSource: CSIRO, 2004

Smart Irrigation SchedulingSmart Irrigation Scheduling‐‐TensiometerTensiometer

A low cost instrument that helps measure soil moisture content

Two versions of tensiometerTwo versions of tensiometer

‐ High end  with a pressure gauge

‐ Low cost versionLow cost version (developed and customised to specific crop through field p gresearch) without a pressure gauge –

Using an auger to drill a hole of a certain depth below ground (a function of effective crop root zone 

•Results in rice and wheat–Saves 22 percent irrigation water in rice–Saves 15‐18 percent irrigation water in wheat

e.g 15 cm for rice and 35 cm for wheat)

Improving/ Stabilizing farmer incomes through resource sustainabilityA project of Columbia Water Center, Columbia University in Gujarat and Punjab

wheat

Rapid, Rapid, Unsustainable  Unsustainable  and and Inequitable Inequitable Groundwater DevelopmentGroundwater Development• Emergence of low cost pumps and government policies led to phenomenal growth of

groundwater development• GW abstraction structures increased from 4 million in 1951 to nearly 24 million• Groundwater irrigation contributes 61% of total irrigated area• Great regional differences in level of GW development• Virtual water, movement of food grains from water scarce region of western IGP to water

surplus eastern regionsurplus eastern region

Scope for sustainable development of GW in Eastern region

Issues & Issues & Opportunities in Eastern IndiaOpportunities in Eastern India

• Limited access to small farmers• Low affordability 

VW Flow Direction

y• Higher cost of pumping• Technological push for GW use • Promoting institutional  arrangements   g g

including groundwater markets, water franchisees, community/group tube wells for increased access to waterwells for increased access to water

• Underground taming of flood waters for irrigation

• Complement government’s program of

Virtual water, movement of food grains from

Complement government s  program of Bringing Green Revolution in Eastern India

7

gwater scarce region of western IGP to watersurplus eastern region

CommunityCommunity‐‐driven Decentralized MAR: driven Decentralized MAR: Building ResilienceBuilding Resilience

Large number of Check dams built by community with government support

utfi.iwmi.orgutfi.iwmi.orgcommunity, with government support

Underground Taming of Floods for Underground Taming of Floods for Irrigation: Pilot, Irrigation: Pilot, UP, IndiaUP, India

WaterWater‐‐Energy NexusEnergy NexusIrrigation Structures Overdraft

Electrification

Irrigation Structures (5000/dot

250000 India: Number of Electric  200000India: Electricity Use in Groundwater Irrigation

100000

150000

200000 Pumps: 1970‐2015

100000

150000

Groundwater Irrigation (m kWh) 

0

50000

1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014

0

50000

1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014

No. of electric pumps in irrigation use (100)Tofal Electricity Use in Agriculture (m kWh)

WaterWater‐‐Energy Nexus:Energy Nexus:Iterative Problems and SolutionsIterative Problems and SolutionsIterative Problems and SolutionsIterative Problems and SolutionsEnergy Subsidy Problems

• Water: Unsustainable aquifer depletionWater: Unsustainable aquifer depletion

• Energy: Utilities unable to raise price and go bankrupt, power grid decayed, energy supply became less reliable

$• Economic: Cost of subsidy is about ~ $9 billion/year

Solutions

Energy: Feeder separation and smart farm‐power rationingEnergy: Feeder separation and smart farm power rationing

Renewable energy use

Efficient pumping systems and matching of wells• Sol

• Water: Community‐driven decentralized managed aquifer recharge

Water smart interventions

State wise Estimated Solar Power PotentialState wise Estimated Solar Power PotentialTotal Solar Power in GWp: 748.98p

Solar Pumps: Possibility to Reality Solar Pumps: Possibility to Reality 

Installed Solar Pumps till  Number

2009‐10 1000

2015‐16 350000 5 6 35000

Till 2020 More than 1.5 Lakh Solar Pumps 

India Targets 100 MW solar power by 2022 for achieving INDCsIndia Targets 100 MW solar power by 2022 for achieving INDCsSubsidised solar pumps connected to grids and Net‐metering 

Solar Solar PowerPowerHarnessing Harnessing the power of the Sun the power of the Sun Harnessing Harnessing the power of the Sun the power of the Sun SPaRCSPaRC –– Solar Power as a Solar Power as a Remunerative Crop Remunerative Crop An innovative concept which linksAn innovative concept which links farmer’s solar irrigation pump to the electricity grid presenting farmer with the choice to sell the surplus powerpowerSPICE SPICE –– Solar Pump Solar Pump IrrigatorsIrrigators’ ’ Cooperative Cooperative EnterpriseEnterpriseInstitutionalizing the idea of SPaRC through a cooperative model

BACK ^

Climate Smart and Remunerative Solar Climate Smart and Remunerative Solar IrrigationIrrigationIrrigationIrrigation

Enhanced access toEnhanced access toground ground water for water for small small holdersholders

The opportunityThe opportunityTriple wins Triple wins • Reduction in greenhouse gas emissions

• India has 130,000 GW of installed pumping capacity in the form of electric and diesel tube wells

• Sustainable solar irrigation pumps with feed‐in 

Reduction in greenhouse gas emissions• Sustainable use of groundwater• Water access & income to farmers The result The result • Launch of the world’s first Solar Pump

tariff for selling excess electricity to the gridLaunch of the world s first Solar Pump Irrigation Cooperative (SPICE)

PradhanPradhan MantriMantri KrishiKrishiPradhan Pradhan MantriMantri KrishiKrishiSinchayeeSinchayee YojanaYojana

PMKSYHarHar KhetKhet KoKo PaaniPaaniHarHar KhetKhet KoKo PaaniPaani

Moving from fragmented approach to converged ‘end to end’ solutionco e ged e d to e d so ut o

Focus: End to End Solution to Irrigation Supply ChainFocus: End to End Solution to Irrigation Supply Chain

• Rain water harvesting /Micro storage e.g. ponds/tanks.  Water Sources

ChainChain

• Community water tanks/check dams.  • Secondary storage structures (Diggie)• Groundwater sources‐Dug wells/Tube wellspp

ly Chain

• River lift irrigation• Cement Nala Bund, Kolhapuri Gate

rigatio

n Sup

• Command Area Development• Underground pipe conveyance system

then

ing  Irr Distribution

ffi i• Drip & Sprinkler System;• Cropping alignment, on‐farm development• Efficient and energy saving (e.g. solar powered) water 

Strengt Water Use Efficiency

gy g ( g p )lifting devices

Source: DAC

I di ’ M I i i D i d Di i

IWMIIWMI‐‐TATA Policy PaperTATA Policy Paper

India’s Most Irrigation Deprived Districts

India’s most irrigation deprived districts are primarily located in Central Indian Tribal  112 out of the 126 districts have unutilized p y

Highlands, Rajasthan and the Deccan region GW potential for future irrigation development

Source: Tushaar et. Al. 2016

IWMIIWMI‐‐TATA Research: Rethinking PMKSY TATA Research: Rethinking PMKSY 

• PMKSY’s current avtar is a convergence of pre‐existing schemes with indifferent track record;

• Instead of spreading resources thin PMKSY shouldInstead of spreading resources thin, PMKSY should focus on unirrigated half of India’s agrarian landscape: 112 most irrigation‐deprived districts (<30% irrigated holdings);

• Quickest and most cost‐effective way of providing irrigation to these is by helping them make a well/borewell and acquire a pump with distribution pipe;distribution pipe;

• 105 out of the 112 irrigation deprived districts are notified by CGWB as ‘safe’ (<70% groundwater development);

• Key new opportunities: 

• Solar irrigation pumps; and 

• Reuse of municipal wastewater in pagriculture

Convergence for Better Use of W i A i l

Last Mile Coverage of  Irrigation Water in Agriculture  Project

Water lifting device on dug well in Damoh. Water being released from Kutni

dam to feeder canal in chattarpurFarmers lifting water from feeder 

canaldam to feeder canal in chattarpurdistrict.

canal.

Mi i i ti dMicro irrigation and crop diversification, Damoh.

Farmers irrigating wheat crop from the pannchampur Minor.

A good stand of wheat crop.

Synergy between INDCs and SDGsSynergy between INDCs and SDGs

INDCs & Water

• Enhancing efficient use of water (WUE by 20%)

• Ensure water access

• Water harvesting & GWWater harvesting & GW recharge

• Wastewater reuse (also source of nutrients)

2.3 Doubling Agri Production2.4 Resilient Agri products

13.1 Adaptive capacity to CC13.2 Integrating CC measures 3.3 Capacity development on CC

source of nutrients)

• Increased forest/tree cover (C sink of 2.5‐3 bil. t of CO2equivalent)

• Solar pumps (100K)

l15.1 Sustainable Eco‐sys15 3 C b d d i

7.1 Access to renewable  1.5 Reducing vulnerability

Harmonize complementarities 15.3 Combat degradation energy

Key Messages Key Messages • Improving irrigation performance to enable reduced diversions &

return flows and enhanced livelihoods and food security.

• Combination of supply augmentation and demand management• Combination of supply augmentation and demand management

• Canal fed pressurized irrigation

• Mainstreaming of emerging innovations and technologies• Mainstreaming of emerging innovations and technologiesthrough on‐going National/State programs/schemes

• DSS integrating hydrologic, agronomy and socio‐economic models

• Promote use of ICT in irrigation management

• Modernization and revitalization of irrigation systems• Greater emphasis on use of solar irrigation

• Capitalize on co‐benefits of mitigation through conjunctivet f t dmanagement of water and energy

Th k !Th k !Thank you!Thank you!Email ‐ a.sikka@cgiar.org