Based on the requirement as countermeasure to the present constraint of irrigation component for crop diversification, which was confirmed through series of interaction/workshop with the farmers and block agriculture officers, the basic strategy for irrigation development will focus on, development of minor irrigation systems, improvement of existing irrigation system, development of small scale irrigation facilities, efficient water management and rain water harvesting.
DOA and PMU of Phase-1 project have selected the subprojects which are listed in short and standby lists based on following selection criteria; 1. Willingness of the Community to participate & take over O&M, 2. Water availability, 3. Location of the farms, 4. Size of the holdings and CCA, 5. Economic status of the beneficiaries, 6. Topography of the area availability of technical information, 7. Environmental aspect. Though the subprojects have once selected in 2018 when DOA prepare the draft DPR, they have been reviewed and some subprojects have been replaced with new subprojects from standby list in 2020.
The number of subprojects will be 306 which consist of 296 sub-projects from short list and 10 sub- projects from convergence components with IPHD. The 10 subprojects have not yet decided but irrigation facilities have already constructed in the subprojects and micro irrigation system will be applied there. It is listed currently about 45 subprojects which meets below selection criteria. Those subprojects will be selected within the framework when some subprojects of above 306 subprojects are cancelled at the implementation stage because other scheme and project target them etc. The list will be revised by DoA at every batch（ every year）then it will be informed to JICA .
Table 1.1.1 Selection Criteria of Sub-projects
| No. | Item | Description |
|---|---|---|
1 |
Willingness of the Community to participate & take over O&M |
Written consent of the farmers & Gram Panchayat. General observation during group discussion. |
2 |
Water availability |
Perennial water is there and available for irrigation. |
3 |
Location of the farms |
Less than 1 km. and 10 minutes from public roads. |
4 |
Size of the holdings and CCA. |
More than 5 ha |
5 |
Economic status of the beneficiaries |
House is normal condition and some farmers have gadgets such as 2 wheeler/ 4 wheeler) and agriculture tools such as tractors/ power tiller/ weeder from general observation. |
6 |
Topography of the area availability of technical information, etc. |
Area should not be too hilly and should be suitable for crop diversification. |
7. |
Environmental aspect |
Though sub-projects which fall into the “Category A” as per the JICA Guideline are not anticipated in the Project, the following scale of sub- projects are regarded as the “Category A”. |
Components of each sub-projects are clarified in this preparatory survey. Those necessities are verified by DOA staff and PMU staff of phase-1 project when the investigations for selection of sub-projects were conducted.
KVA will recruit candidate farmers who will be provided MIS under below selection criteria
To avoid wastage of important natural resource and raise irrigation efficiency, micro irrigation system is planning to be installed in 276 ha in lift irrigation schemes and tube well irrigation schemes. It is to be installed 560 ha in flow irrigation schemes. Meanwhile, even if there is any substitution of sub- projects, total irrigated area should be achieved.
Micro irrigation system is ideally suitable for close spaced crops like vegetables. With the help of this system, it is expected 40% increase in the irrigated area with the same amount of water compared with surface method of irrigation. The overall efficiency of the system is above 80% and no land is wasted in making bunds and channels and about 40-60% saving in labor compared to surface irrigation. At the time of installation of MIS, expected crop, size of field, and needs of water storage tank or booster pump etc., shall be checked with service provider, extension officer/ junior engineer, and farmers.
Catchment area treatment of the proposed irrigation systems are required to help recharging of the streams/nallahs which will further provide water for irrigation throughout the year. Under this component, Wire Crates and Silt Retention Structure are included. Details are show as follows.
In HP, ample yearly sun light hours are enough, and it is presumed that suitable and feasible site are capable for installing PV system to energize pumping machinery for lifting water. There are 103 sub- projects of LIS and STW including new and improvement scheme and solar pumping are expected to be installed to 83 LIS and STW sub projects as shown in below table. It seems to be difficult to install Solar Pumping system at the remaining subprojects because there are difficulties such as agreement of land use for solar panel etc.
Majority of the existing farm paths/road are generally very narrow with no pavement and allow movement of only human beings, motorcycle, bicycle or mules etc. During the Phase-I project on crop diversification, it was observed that poor conditions of roads is one of the major constraint in smooth diversification as the labor cost for carrying the produce from farm to road head increase. Timely transportation of farm produce, approach to the producing area is a key for harvesting profits from farm produce. Therefore, it is proposed to construct/rehabilitate farm access roads from existing road linkages covering.
KVA will recruit candidate farmers who will be provided Solar/Electric Fencing under below selection criteria
Based on the DOA’s survey, farmer’s requirement on solar/electric fencing are estimated as follow.
Farmers are exposed potential risks for farming is damage to crops by stray/wild animals. In Himachal Pradesh more than wild animals, the farmers are exposed to risk of crop damage by monkeys It is estimated by the Department of Agriculture and Horticulture, Govt. of Himachal Pradesh that an area of 1.95 lakh ha.area is affected by monkeys and other wild life species, which annually causes loss to the tune of Rs.300 crores to the farmers.
According to the learning from the Govt. of Himachal Pradesh’s initiatives under the “Mukhya MantriKhet Sarankshan Yojana”, it is more cost effective if beneficiaries install the fencing for larger scale as a group rather than for small and scattered land holdings. Therefore the Project will encourage beneficiaries to install as a group. The project share would be 90 percent out of total cost and beneficiary share 10%.
Once all the institution is set up, the project starts identifying the appropriate locations where the IPHD has already developed irrigation system and the farmers are demanding more interventions from the Govt. to either extend the existing distribution system or to get the capacity building trainings to diversify their cropping pattern. Upon identification of such location/site, the project assess technical feasibility of intended interventions and obtain the No Objection Certificate (NOC) from IPHD to modify the existing system in terms of customization of existing distribution system for irrigation through Micro Irrigation System or any other distribution channel as distribution pipe.
IPHD cares the irrigation facilities constructed by IPHD, and the O&M and technical support cost will be covered by IPHD itself. In case of DOA’s construction, irrigation facilities will be handed over to KVA and KVA member will be executor of O&M of the facilities.
Though the site is not identified so far, based on above procedure and implementation structure, the distribution system will be developed at the selected subprojects. It is planned that 10 subprojects and 500 ha in total will be the target of this convergence component and the cost for improvement of distribution systems have estimated based of experience of Phase-1 project as Rs. 20,000 per hector.
Provision of micro irrigation facilities are planned in the target subprojects and the area will be 100 ha, 20% of target area in total. The cost for this components have estimated based on experience of Phase- 1 project as Rs.100,000 per hector.
Since the area to be developed with irrigation facilities require proper operation & maintenance hence, strengthening of KVA and federation of these associations at different levels are important for sustainability of the system. Minor operation & maintenance (O&M) works are to be carried out by the WUA. Major activities to be undertaken under this sub component are strengthening of WUA for improvement of water management and strengthening of O&M activities. Different activates to be undertaken under this programme are induction Workshop for Community Motivators, awareness Camp involving Community, formation and formalization of Farmers Group. Capacity development of MC Members, training of SHG Members & its office bearers will be covered under Capacity development of farmers groups. Workshops for Cluster and apex Federation & facilitation of these federations will be conducted to strengthen operation & maintenance of infrastructure.