Question : Farmers' Participatory Action Research Programme

(a) whether the Government has implemented Farmers'' Participatory Action Research Programme (FPARP) in the country and if so, the details thereof along with the salient features of the programme including projects/schemes taken up thereunder since its inception including the targets set and achieved in this regard so far, State-wise;
(b) the details of States which have enacted legislation to amend their irrigation acts for the involvement of farmers in irrigation management;
(c) the details of water users’ associations formed and registered in each State; and
(d) the steps taken/to be taken for achieving the set targets and effective implementation of FPARP?

ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANGA REJUVENATION (PROF. SANWAR LAL JAT)

(a) to (d). Yes, Madam. The Ministry of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation (MoWR, RD & GR) implemented Farmers’ Participatory Action Research Programme (FPARP) involving 5000 demonstrations at a cost of Rs.24.47 crore with the help of 60 Institutes viz. Agricultural Universities, Institutes of India Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), International Crop Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Water and Land Management Institutes (WALMIs) and Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) during initial phase of XI Plan (2007-2010). During the 2nd Phase of FPARP, MoWR, RD & GR awarded the work to 31 Institutes for carrying out 2921 demonstrations, which was also completed by 31.12.2012 at a cost of Rs.14.43 crore.
The objective of the programme was to demonstrate increase in yield and income per drop of water through appropriate use of water, crop variety and agronomic practices. As per the completion reports received from the institutes, in general, the demonstrations show a saving of water ranging between 5% to 54% (wheat from 5% to 33%, vegetables from 23% to 40% and paddy from 25% to 54%) and crop yield improvement ranging between 10% to 62% (wheat ranging from 16% to 43%, vegetables from 10 to 23%, paddy from 10 to 62%). State-wise details are given in Annexure-I.

Contd…2/-

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In 1988, Ministry brought out a Model Act on Participatory Irrigation Management (PIM) and circulated to the States for adoption by the State Legislatures for enacting new irrigation acts/amending the existing irrigation acts for facilitating PIM. According to the Model Bill circulated by the Government of India, 17 State Governments namely Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, J&K, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Nagaland, Odisha, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh have enacted exclusive legislation for involvement of farmers in irrigation management under CADWM Programme. Under the Act, the constitution of Water Users’ Associations (WUAs) has become the main feature for involvement of farmers in the management of Command Area Development and Water Management (CADWM) Programme.

Water Users’ Associations (WUAs) are formed in 24 States under the CADWM Programme. WUAs in these States have been formed either under PIM Act or under different Cooperative Acts, which were in operation in the States. As per the information available up to August, 2014 a total of 84779 Water Users’ Associations have been formed in the country covering an area of 178.43 lakh ha. State wise information of Water Users’ Associations is given in Annexure-II.

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