fund for furthering flexible irrigation
Gadigaltar Flexible Irrigation Pilot Project, Madhya Pradesh, India
The Gadigaltar Flexible Irrigation Pilot Project was completed in 1992, funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and designed by John L. Merriam as a demonstration of a flexible irrigation system using a limited rate arranged-demand schedule. It included: semi-closed pipelines; sloping and level-top canals; service-area reservoirs; and the establishment of a farmer Water Users Association (WUA). The Gadigaltar project was planned as the leader in India and worldwide in the use of the flexible irrigation supply concept. The project net irrigated area is 1,160 ha (2,900 ac), divided into 67 groups (subchaks) with about 550 farms. The distribution system comprises approximately 66,000 m (41 miles) of low pressure, concrete pipe of 200-750 mm (8-30 in) dia. The subchaks have 30-50 m of pipe per hectare (40-65 ft per ac) of 200-300 mm (8-12 in) dia.
It was expected that the project would lead to upgraded on-farm management and cropping procedures, higher yields, more convenient and reduced labor, minimized water applications, rainfall conservation, decreased soil erosion, and decreased maintenance. It would permit optimization of the total farming system. However, within two seasons much of the canal and pipeline equipment (valves, gates, turnouts) had been severely damaged or removed completely. The project suffered setbacks during the first few seasons due to inadequate farmer training, lack of follow-up support by local agencies, and insufficient operation and maintenance budget provisions. However, the Water Resources Department (WRD) manages to operate the system so that each farmer receives irrigation water under a modified daytime only rotation schedule and grows good crops.
The Fund for Furthering Flexible Irrigation (4FI) and the Merriam Irrigation Education Foundation (MIEF) have worked together with the WRD, farmers, and local agencies since 1999 in a comprehensive rehabilitation program. This program restored the pipeline distribution system to its original design potential and assisted the development of a capable organization of farmers to operate the project. The Madhya Pradesh State Government transferred the operation and maintenance of the Gadigaltar project to an elected farmer WUA in April 2000.
Online Papers and Site Visit Reports
Gadigaltar Site Visit Report-- July 2001
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