India/USAID : irrigation development options and investment strategies for the 1980"s

focus and prioritize its irrigation efforts in India, this report reviews current A.I.D. irrigation projects (IP"s) in the country and presents irrigation development options and investment strategies for the 1980"s. After background sections on irrigation in India and the USAID/I irrigation program, the authors review the technical and organizational aspects of 14. A.I.D. IP"s and training programs in the states of Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan. Most projects visited were inefficient or unreliable in distributing water to and within fields and lacked effective management between the plants and the water supply, leading to much underutilization (and waste of money) and inequity in benefit distribution. A review of the operations of the Command. Area Development. Authorities (CADA), the agency overseeing IP"s, reveals poor overall control and coordination. To help redress these problems, a new management model for CADA, stressing policy management, is presented. Strategies suggested to improve IP"s regard the distribution of irrigation water and the equity of this distribution and include a wide range of technical and management training options. As guidelines for future A.I.D. irrigation investment policy, it is recommended that USAID/I: expand its technical staff and reduce farmer management unit size in medium IP"s; set up a model management system in a medium IP; continue assessing the actual performance of IP"s; and evaluate support to credit agencies in terms of specific objectives. A.I.D. should: develop a program to train Indian personnel in conducting diagnostic pre-investment surveys; encourage irrigation system technical innovations; develop power sources for quick and cost-effective tubewells; assist the Government of India in studying the nature and concentration of irrigation power needs; investigate remedies for waterlogged and saline areas; provide technical help in assessing and correcting siltation problems; support attractive minor IP"s; and develop appropriate training programs in order to broaden water management expertise. Appended are reports on water resource development, irrigation yield optimization, a canal supply rotational system, and on meetings between irrigation experts and Indian government officials.