The ‘Target Bhagirathi Project’ of the Chhattisgarh Government started in April 2016 has achieved resounding success with completion of under-construction and pending irrigation projects within the prescribed time frame, officials informed.
The project taken up by State Water Resources Department had led to creation of more than 1.17 lakh hectares of irrigation facilities as on March 2017, they informed.
The Chhattisgarh Government had recently also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with NABARD with the latter agreeing to provide loan worth nearly Rs715 crore for completion of three incomplete major irrigation schemes under Prime Minister Agriculture Irrigation Scheme.
These schemes include-- Kelo Major Irrigation Project, Kharang Canal lining Project and Maniyari Canal lining, which are to be completed by year 2019 to meet the target. The completion of these projects will expand irrigation facility in 47,685 hectares, officials informed.
Officials of Water Resources Department informed on the occasion that Central Government has included 99 important schemes in Prime Minister Agriculture Irrigation Scheme, which includes three big projects of Chhattisgarh.
All these three projects are on the verge of completion. 99% of the works under these projects has been completed, remaining construction works will also be completed soon.
Notably, Chhattisgarh is also among 13 States which had been mentioned in the Economic Survey report 2015-16 as a success story on use of drip irrigation by farmers on their lands.
The results from an impact evaluation of National Mission on Micro Irrigation of the Union Ministry of Agriculture conducted in 64 districts of 13 states mainly — Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Odisha, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Sikkim, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand — are revealing on the benefits of drip irrigation, according to the survey report.
Notably, the Chhattisgarh Government decided to follow the Gujarat model of 'Drip and Sprinkler Irrigation' practices in the State in 2015-16.
It is worth mentioning here that many villages in Gujarat have adopted 100 per cent Drip and Sprinkler Irrigation systems to water crops. In June 2009, more than 93,000 farmers in Gujarat have adopted Drip Irrigation for their total 1.51 lakh hectare land.
Drip Irrigation system and inter-linking of 21 rivers of Gujarat for conservation of water has made it possible for record Sugarcane cultivation in that State.
The Gujarat Green Revolution Company ltd (GGRC) is aimed to promote Micro Irrigation System (MIS) to the farmers of Gujarat as an implementing agency on behalf of Government of Gujarat (GoG) and Government of India (GoI) to bring 2nd Green Revolution in consonance with the 'Agriculture policy of Gujarat Vision 2010' so as to save water and energy, besides multiple benefits to improve Agricultural productivity and farmer’s prosperity at large.
The Gujarat Agro Industries Corporation ltd (GAICl) and Agriculture Produce Market Committee (APMC) adopts various programs and schemes for the Agriculture and Horticulture segment for investments and other processing subsidies in the Food Processing Sector. Agri implement service help is provided by the Gujarat government for open pipelines and purchase of Tractors, etc. Bio gas subsidies are offered with loan application, officials stated.
The Chhattisgarh State Seed and Agriculture Development Corporation will distribute Drip and Sprinklers to the State's farmers under the Minor Irrigation Project, officials here stated.
Chhattisgarh has set an ambitious target of raising its irrigation potential to 3.2 million hectares by 2028, officials informed.
Notably, the State government has ensured usage of nearly 73 per cent of the extended irrigation capacity which is far better than many other states of the country, officials stated.
The actual irrigation capacity for Kharif season has doubled whereas the irrigation capacity for Rabi season has increased by 10 times, they stated.
Notably, the Chhattisgarh Government had also made all preparations to strengthen Central Government's Water Conservation and Management policy of ''Jal Kranti Abhiyaan'' (Water Revolution Mission).
A total of 54 severe water scarce villages have been selected for the Mission. Two villages from each of the 27 districts have been selected for the purpose.
Meanwhile, the State Government's Water Resource Department has given an revised administrative sanction of Rs20.73 crore for Bakori Water Reservoir Scheme in Magarlod block of Dhamtari district.
Irrigation of Kharif crops on 769 hectare area is proposed from this irrigation scheme.
The Water Resources Department has also given revised administrative sanction of Rs3.84 crore for Amapara Diversion Irrigation Scheme in Kota block of Bilaspur district in Chhattisgarh.
This irrigation scheme will provide irrigation facility for Kharif crops in 160 hectares area.
The State Government has also given revised administrative sanction of Rs7.94 crore for construction of Rajpur Irrigation Diversion Scheme of Antagarh block of North Bastar (Kanker) district.
The completion of this project will ensure water supply for irrigation of nearly 200 hectares area in Kharif season.
Notably, the State Horticulture Department has achieved 25 per cent target so far for the State sponsored irrigation scheme for promoting drip irrigation in Kanker district.
A target of irrigating 100 hectares of land using drip irrigation had been set in centrally sponsored scheme and 80 hectares under State sponsored scheme.
Notably, the Chhattisgarh Government is also reviving defunct check-dams across the State by repairing them in a bid to bolster its ongoing water conservation measures taken up across the State.
About 2, 600 new check dams had also been sanctioned and 679 check-dams had been constructed already. The excess water from the monsoons is being collected in this process. The water is being utilised for fish culture, officials informed.
Notably, over 1.24 lakh water augmentation works had been sanctioned under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGA) during the past 18 months (2015-2016) and till June 2016.
About 46,121 structures had already been constructed. This include construction of canals, deepening of canals, private construction of canals (dabri), construction of wells, check dams, Anicuts, canal lining, irrigation drains, soak pits and flood control structures.
The power consumption rate of agricultural irrigation pumps in Chhattisgarh have registered a phenomenal increase of 287 per cent during the past few years, officials of the State-owned power companies informed.
Currently over 3.73 lakh irrigation pumps are being used by farmers in Chhattisgarh.
Under the ‘Krishak Jeevan Jyoti Yojana’ run by the State Government, on every 3 HP pumps 6,000 units and over 5 HP pumps 7,500 units are being provided free of cost to the farmers every year.
A master-plan for the development of horticulture had been prepared by the State Government on the basis of geographical distinction. There is four-times increase in acreage of horticulture and five times increase in the production of fruits, vegetables and flowers in the past thirteen years.
The horticulture crops include fruits, vegetables, flowers, spices, medicinal and scented plants. The acreage under horticulture is about seven lakh 92 thousand 943 hectares in 2015-2016. Earlier, in the year 2004-2005 the acreage under Horticulture crops had been about 2.55 lakh hectares of land.
Twenty -five villages are located in each Development block and in each village a minimum of 20 acres is identified. Each cluster will have 200 acre land.
Fruit crops are developed in almost all the districts of the State. Mangoes, bananas, papaya, guavas, lime, narangi, kathal, lemons, cashew-nuts, custard apple, litchi, watermelon, amala, cherries, sapotas (Chiku), pomegranate, coconuts and many other fruit-bearing trees are grown on a large-scale in the entire State. Watermelons of Chhattisgarh are very popular all over the world, particularly in Middle-East. Watermelon is grown on a wide-scale at Mahanadi Basin-Janjgiri-Champa and Mahasamund districts. The production of flowers had increased several times after the formation of the State. 'Gendha' (Marigold), Roses, Rajnigandha ,Guldaudhi, Gladioleus, Chameli (Jasmine) and many other varieties are grown. Marigold plants are grown in the entire State.