Energy Use and its Efficiency in Tamil Nadu Agriculture: A Case Study of Different Groundwater Development Regions in Coimbatore District of Tamil Nadu

The study has revealed that over-exploitation of groundwater has effected drastic changes in energy input-use and energy output produced across the regions in Coimbatore district and the Tamil Nadu state. Energy equivalent values have been used for various direct sources of energy (human, animal and mechanical power), indirect sources (fertilizers, pesticides, manures), commercial, non-commercial, renewable and non-renewable energy sources to analyse the economics of energy usage in the agricultural production process in the two different groundwater development regions of the Coimbatore district. Energy inputs usage has been found very high in groundwater less-exploited area of Perur in paddy and cotton crops. For the coconut crop, Palladam block has shown consumption of more energy-inputs. Energy output-input ratios for paddy, coconut and cotton have been reported as 0.85, 29.35 and 0.09 in Perur region and 0.76, 13.20 and 0.09 in Palladam region. The energy efficiency has been observed higher in coconut crop among crops and in Perur among regions. Not much difference has been observed in gross value of output per MJ of energy input in paddy and cotton crops among groundwater severely-exploited and less exploited regions.Resource /Energy Economics and Policy,

Impact of Drip Irrigation on Farming System: Evidence from Southern India

The micro irrigation in general and drip irrigation in particular has received considerable attention from policy makers, researchers, economists etc. for its perceived ability to contribute significantly to groundwater resources development, agricultural productivity, economic growth, and environmental sustainability. In this paper, the impact of drip irrigation has been studied on farming system in terms of cropping pattern, resources use and yield. The drip method of irrigation has been found to have a significant impact on resources saving, cost of cultivation, yield of crops and farm profitability. Hence, the policy should be focused on promotion of drip irrigation in those regions where scarcity of water and labour is alarming and where shift towards wider-spaced crops is taking place.Agricultural and Food Policy,

Impacts of Watershed Development Programmes: Experiences and Evidences from Tamil Nadu

The overall performance of watershed development programmes has been examined in the state of Tamil Nadu. The impacts of major watershed development programmes have been outlined in terms of biophysical impacts, environmental impacts, socio-economic impacts and overall economic impacts. It is pointed out that the watershed development activities have made significant positive impacts on various biophysical aspects such as soil and water conservation, soil fertility, soil and water erosion in cropped area, changes in cropping pattern, cropping intensity, production and productivity of crops. Watershed development activities have shown significant positive impacts on water table, perenniality of water in wells, water availability for cattle and other domestic uses, etc. The overall economic impacts have been evaluated in terms of NPV, IRR and BCR. The peoples’ participation in watershed development activities has been found satisfactory but the optimal level is yet to be achieved. Training of farmers has been found effective in disseminating technical knowledge. According to the study, the future strategy should be the movement towards a balanced approach of matching the supply-driven menu with a set of demand-driven activities. Peoples’ participation, involvement of Panchayati Raj Institutions, local user groups and NGOs along side institutional support from different levels, viz. the Union Government, the state, the district and block levels should be ensured to make the programme more participatory, interactive and cost-effective. Convergence of various rural development programmes around the watershed could be ensured to promote holistic development of watersheds. For its continued success, the programme, should be economically efficient, financially viable, technically feasible and socially acceptable while ensuring equity. For, sustainable development, regular and routine monitoring of environmental parameters is important as environmental enhancement increases the credibility and acceptability of the programme.Agricultural and Food Policy,

Impacts of Watershed Development Programmes: Experiences and Evidences from Tamil Nadu

The overall performance of watershed development programmes has been examined in the state of Tamil Nadu. The impacts of major watershed development programmes have been outlined in terms of biophysical impacts, environmental impacts, socio-economic impacts and overall economic impacts. It is pointed out that the watershed development activities have made significant positive impacts on various biophysical aspects such as soil and water conservation, soil fertility, soil and water erosion in cropped area, changes in cropping pattern, cropping intensity, production and productivity of crops. Watershed development activities have shown significant positive impacts on water table, perenniality of water in wells, water availability for cattle and other domestic uses, etc. The overall economic impacts have been evaluated in terms of NPV, IRR and BCR. The peoples’ participation in watershed development activities has been found satisfactory but the optimal level is yet to be achieved. Training of farmers has been found effective in disseminating technical knowledge. According to the study, the future strategy should be the movement towards a balanced approach of matching the supply-driven menu with a set of demand-driven activities. Peoples’ participation, involvement of Panchayati Raj Institutions, local user groups and NGOs along side institutional support from different levels, viz. the Union Government, the state, the district and block levels should be ensured to make the programme more participatory, interactive and cost-effective. Convergence of various rural development programmes around the watershed could be ensured to promote holistic development of watersheds. For its continued success, the programme, should be economically efficient, financially viable, technically feasible and socially acceptable while ensuring equity. For, sustainable development, regular and routine monitoring of environmental parameters is important as environmental enhancement increases the credibility and acceptability of the programme.Watershed Development; Net Present Value; Benefit Cost Ratio;Tamil Nadu

TANK IRRIGATION IN INDIA AND THAILAND: AN EXAMPLE OF COMMON PROPERTY RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

Resource /Energy Economics and Policy,

THE TANKS OF SOUTH INDIA (A POTENTIAL FOR FUTURE EXPANSION IN IRRIGATION)

Resource /Energy Economics and Policy,

THE MANAGEMENT, PRODUCTION, AND REHABILITATION IN SOUTH INDIAN IRRIGATION TANKS

Resource /Energy Economics and Policy,

The Dissemination of Private Wells and Double Tragedies: The Overexploitation of Groundwater among Well Users and Increased Poverty among Non-Well Users in Tamil Nadu, India

This paper investigates the impact of the dissemination of modern irrigation systems, i.e. private wells with pumps, on the livelihood not only among the farmers who have access to wells but also among the farmers who have no access to wells and thus rely solely on traditional irrigation systems called tank irrigation systems. The analysis is based on a village and household data set collected in Tamil Nadu, India where tank irrigation systems have been managed collectively for rice cultivation. Our statistical analyses predict that once declines in collective management occur due to the dissemination of private wells, the rice yield and income of the no-well-access farmers alone will decrease, resulting in increased poverty among them. Our analyses also find that the dissemination leads to the overexploitation of groundwater, and thus results in no significant increase in rice profit among the well-access farmers. In this way, the dissemination of private wells creates double tragedies: not only increased poverty among the no-well-access farmers but also overexploitation and profit reduction among the well-access farmers.irrigation, well, common property, poverty, India, Resource /Energy Economics and Policy, O3, O13, Q25,

Policy interfacing and irrigation development in Tamil Nadu

AgroclimatologyGroundwater irrigationWellsTank irrigationCanalsIrrigation systemsPolicyIrrigated landWater use efficiency

State of irrigation in Tamil Nadu: investments and returns

Irrigation schemesPublic investmentPrivate investmentGroundwater irrigationRegression analysisIrrigation efficiencyCrop productionWater conservation