Managing Irrigation: Challenges, Opportunities and Way Forward Alok K Sikka International Water Management Institute IWMI Representative‐India, New Delhi

1. Managing Irrigation: Challenges, Managing Irrigation: Challenges,
Opportunities and Way ForwardOpportunities and Way Forward
Alok K SikkaAlok K Sikka
International Water Management Institute
IWMI Representative‐India, New Delhi

2. Water for farmers…Water for farmers…
• 2 billion people depend on smallholder p p p
farming for their livelihoods
• Agriculture accounts for 70% of global
freshwater withdrawals
• Climate change is likely to lead to more
unpredictable rainfall

3. Water ScarcityWater Scarcity

4. Projected Water ScarcityProjected Water Scarcity‐‐20252025

5. Increased Incidence & Severity of Droughts Increased Incidence & Severity of Droughts Increased Incidence & Severity of Droughts Increased Incidence & Severity of Droughts
D ht I id (%) i I diDrought Incidence (%) in India
Year RF Deficit
Dry reservoir/tank bedsRainfall departure
from normal‐India
Year RF Deficit
(Production
loss) in (%)
2002 ‐19 (‐15.40) Dry wells( )
2009 ‐23 (‐4.12)
2014 ‐12 (‐3.25)
2015 14 ( 2 35)
Dry wells
200
2015 ‐14 (‐2.35)
50
100
150
200
% This year storage to last 10 years storage
% storage (MMI reservoirs) in
2009 compare to last 10 years
average
Increased
frequency
in last
decade
0
AP JHAR GUJ HP KAR KRL MP CHH MAH ORI PUN RAJ TN TRP UP UTT WB
decade

6. Water ResourcesWater Resources
• Irrigation uses 83% of water, Source Quantity (BCM)
diversion of water to agriculture
expected to reduce (72% by 2025)
• Likely further reduction due to
climate change
Q y ( )
• Annual rainfall (1190mm) : 4000
• Estimated Utilizable water : 1122
• Surface water : 690
climate change
• Low Irrigation Efficiency (≈38% in
MMI Projects) and 65‐70% in ground
water
• Net Irrig. Area : 64 Mha (44%)
• Groundwater Contribution : 60%
• Rainfed Area : 78 Mha (56%)
water
• Attributed to inefficient
management of irrigation systems
 Storage of water (BCM): World – 900
6
Storage of water (BCM): World 900
North America -3600; India-253

7. Growth of Irrigation (source wise)Growth of Irrigation (source wise)Growth of Irrigation (source wise)Growth of Irrigation (source wise)
Irrigation potential utilised is only 89 M ha against 113 M ha I P created
since Independence at a cost of RS 400,000 crores through MMI p , g

8. PlanPlan‐‐wise wise Irrigation Potential Created Irrigation Potential Created & &
Utilized Utilized ((MhaMha))(( ))
Out of 113.53 M ha total irrigation potential created by the XI Plan, 47.97 M ha (42%) is from
MMI projects and the remaining 65.56 Mha (58%) from minor irrigation schemes
But the irrigation potential utilised is only 89 M ha, leaving a gap of 24 M haBut the irrigation potential utilised is only 89 M ha, leaving a gap of 24 M ha

9. Policies & Programmes in Water Sector
Major and Medium Irrigation
Projects
Irrigation potential created increased from 9.72 M
ha (1950 51) to 47 97 M ha (2011 12);Projects ha (1950‐51) to 47.97 M ha (2011‐12);
Accelerated Irrigation Benefits
Programme (AIBP)
108.21 M ha irrigational potential created (about
77% of UIP)
Command Area Development and
Water Management Programme
About 22 M ha covered since inception upto
March, 2011
Repair, Renovation and Restoration
(RRR) of Water Bodies
Restoration completed in 1054 water bodies in 15
States(RRR) of Water Bodies States
Artificial Recharge to Ground Water
through Dug wells
Implemented in 1180 over exploited, critical and
semi‐critical blocks in 7 States.
i l i i j l i l b 20%National Water Mission Major goal to improve WUE at least by 20%
National Mission on Micro Irrigation
(NMMI)
Promoting enhanced WUE
National Program on Aquifer
Mapping & Management
Mapping & characterizing aquifer at 1:50000
Prime Minister Krishi Sinchayee Provide water access to each farm field
Yojana (PMKSY)
9

10. Bridging DemandBridging Demand‐‐Supply GapSupply Gap
• Researchers, managers, implementers and policy planners are
challenged to find out ways and means of bridging the growing
demand‐supply gap in water and agriculture and gap between IPCdemand‐supply gap in water and agriculture and gap between IPC
and IPU and aging irrigation systems.
• Fundamental ways to bridge demand‐supply gap of water in
agriculture are, to:
• increase water supplies,
• improve water productivity ‘More crop per drop’,p p y p p p ,
• make economic choices
• reduce water withdrawals, and make crop substitutions
• demand management• demand management
• co‐management of water (multiple water use)
• Environmentally benign strategies

11. Is there a Is there a Large Scope Large Scope for for Increasing Increasing WP? WP?
• Large variation in WP
• A significant gap exists between the actual
and maximum WP
• Reducing the gap alone will substantially
reduce additional need for irrigation water
Relationships of yield and consumptive water use (CWU) of
foodgrains
4.0
5.0
4.0
5.0
1 0
2.0
3.0
ield(ton/ha)
1 0
2.0
3.0
d(maxyield)d(CWU)
-1.0
0.0
1.0
0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450 500 550 600 650 700 750
CWU (mm)
Y
-1.0
0.0
1.0
Great opportunity to increase yield
& WP in rainfed districts and
irrigated areas with CWU below
300 mm with RWH
Source: Upali et al. (2010)
Yield Max yield function
d(max yield)/d(CWU)-100mm d(max yield)/d(mm)-200mm
300 mm with RWH

12. ModernizationModernization
“Process of upgrading infrastructure,
operations and management ofoperations and management of
irrigation and drainage systems to
sustain the water delivery servicesustain the water delivery service
requirements of farmers and optimize
d ti d t d ti it ”production and water productivity.”
Source: ‐ Lance Gore Arnaud Cauchois (ADB) Beau Freeman MikeSource: Lance Gore, Arnaud Cauchois (ADB), Beau Freeman, Mike
Chegwin (Lahmeyer), Ian Makin (IWMI), September 2015

13. ModernizationModernization
• Understand the real constraints – before investing
– MASCOTTE – FAO guidelines on modernization of irrigation service:
• What level of water delivery service does the system currently provide?
• What hardware (infrastructure) and software (operational procedures,
institutional setup, etc.) features affect this level of service?
• What improvements in the various components could make a significant
difference in service delivery to users?
• Manage Irrigation Assets for long‐term performance• Manage Irrigation Assets for long‐term performance
– Current practice tends towards deferred maintenance (build‐ignore‐
rehabilitate‐ignore)
– Aging irrigation infrastructure
• Expand use of ICT to improve information and decision making

14. Innovations Innovations –– Farm and FieldFarm and Field
• Surface irrigation often performs poorly,
but:
– Improved farmer knowledge and simple tools
work;
– Laser grading and levelling can transform
performance and reduce energy costs;
– Sprinkler, drip and trickle systems can reduce
labour, fertilizer and water requirements., q
• On‐farm storage and/or access to
groundwater enables farmers to get
b f f i i ibetter performance from irrigation
services
Capacity building for farmers is essentialCapacity building for farmers is essentialCapacity building for farmers is essentialCapacity building for farmers is essential

15. Modernizing Irrigation ServicesModernizing Irrigation Servicesfort
Modern management:
• Agree cropping pattern with water users at
start of season based on available water
supply
Additional effort
required to move from
one level to the next
gement eff
Supply orientated management:
supply
• Schedule to match demands
• Measure and monitor allocations
• Assess performance
Manag
Simple flood irrigation:
Supply orientated management:
• Fix cropping at design stage
• Enforce designed cropping pattern
• Control by level, maintain FSL in main canals
Time
• Construct channels
• Flood land Burton, Martin. 2011. Water Management in India: Options for Change. Presentation at the 2011 FAO
Investment Days Meeting, December 15‐17.

16. Improving Irrigation PerformanceImproving Irrigation Performance
• Requires:
– strengthening links between main system and farmers'strengthening links between main system and farmers
fields
– problems identified by Chambers in 1980s ‐Still is anproblems identified by Chambers in 1980s Still is an
issue
– Results
• Expansion of groundwater use and local storage
• Poor cost recovery, etc.Poor cost recovery, etc.
• Lack of maintenance

17. Improving Irrigation PerformanceImproving Irrigation Performance
• But the solutions are not isolated in system O&M,
but require:
–Leadership to:
• Set and support clear objectives for systemSet and support clear objectives for system
managers and operators
• Provide timely resources for operations• Provide timely resources for operations,
maintenance and repairs
R d f f• Rewards for performance

18. Closing Gap between Potential Created and Closing Gap between Potential Created and
UtilizedUtilizedUtilizedUtilized Technology for system operation can:
• Provide real‐time data
• Remote operations
• Use of space technology and ICT in
irrigation management
• Dialogic tools (based on DSS) for
• Remote operations
• Improved access to information
• Offer new tools for manual system
tilinkage of canal operation and on‐
farm water management
• Innovative ways of managing canal
water through PPP service
operations
water through PPP, service
providers, farmers’ company, or
federating WUAs into a Private
CompanyCompany
• Bringing pressurized irrigation/
micro‐irrigation as adjunct with
canals

19. Narmada Canal Project, Rajasthan: An Efficient Narmada Canal Project, Rajasthan: An Efficient
Canal fed pressurized Irrigation SystemCanal fed pressurized Irrigation System
cannot be displayed. Your computer may not have enough memory to open the image, or the image may have been corrupted. Restart your computer, and then open the file again. If the red x still appears, you may have to delete the image and then insert it again.
Canal fed pressurized Irrigation SystemCanal fed pressurized Irrigation System
Isabgol Crop
Pump house
Sump well
Isabgol Crop
DIGGI Canal outlet
Canal
W i b 45 49% A ll i ll b i f i i iWater saving by 45‐49%: An overall environmentally benign system of irrigation

20. Participatory Irrigation Management (PIM)Participatory Irrigation Management (PIM)
PIM/water users association ‐ its all about people,
institutions and governance

21. Use of Smart ICT for Efficient Irrigation Use of Smart ICT for Efficient Irrigation
• ICT based technologies integrating• ICT‐based technologies integrating
weather, water and crop related
information and advice
• The project uses satellite imagery• The project uses satellite imagery,
combined with other data, to produce
practical agricultural information for
ffarmers.
• Complex water and crop growth
models are run for each field using this
bi i f d d llicombination of data and satellite
imagery, producing specific, customized
advisories for each farmer
• Smart ICT project implemented in
three countries in Africa – Ethiopia,
Sudan and Egypt

22. Smart Low Cost TechnologySmart Low Cost Technology‐‐wetting front wetting front
DetectorsDetectors
• A mechanical device to monitor the
wetting front
• Iinstallation depth depends on the
application, soil & crop type
Simple technical advisory on water application will
lead to a reduction in water demand and efficient
use of inputs
Source: CSIRO, 2004

23. Smart Irrigation SchedulingSmart Irrigation Scheduling‐‐TensiometerTensiometer
A low cost instrument that helps
measure soil moisture content
Two versions of tensiometerTwo versions of tensiometer
‐ High end with a
pressure gauge
‐ Low cost versionLow cost version
(developed and
customised to specific
crop through field p g
research) without a
pressure gauge –
Using an auger to drill a hole of a
certain depth below ground (a
function of effective crop root zone
•Results in rice and wheat
–Saves 22 percent irrigation water in rice
–Saves 15‐18 percent irrigation water in
wheat
e.g 15 cm for rice and 35 cm for
wheat)
Improving/ Stabilizing farmer incomes through resource sustainability
A project of Columbia Water Center, Columbia University in Gujarat and Punjab
wheat

24. Rapid, Rapid, Unsustainable Unsustainable and and Inequitable Inequitable
Groundwater DevelopmentGroundwater Development
• Emergence of low cost pumps and government policies led to phenomenal growth of
groundwater development
• GW abstraction structures increased from 4 million in 1951 to nearly 24 million
• Groundwater irrigation contributes 61% of total irrigated area
• Great regional differences in level of GW development
• Virtual water, movement of food grains from water scarce region of western IGP to water
surplus eastern regionsurplus eastern region
Scope for sustainable development of GW in Eastern region

25. Issues & Issues & Opportunities in Eastern IndiaOpportunities in Eastern India
• Limited access to small farmers
• Low affordability
VW Flow Direction
y
• Higher cost of pumping
• Technological push for GW use
• Promoting institutional arrangements g g
including groundwater markets, water
franchisees, community/group tube
wells for increased access to waterwells for increased access to water
• Underground taming of flood waters for
irrigation
• Complement government’s program of
Virtual water, movement of food grains from
Complement government s program of
Bringing Green Revolution in Eastern
India
7
g
water scarce region of western IGP to water
surplus eastern region

26. CommunityCommunity‐‐driven Decentralized MAR: driven Decentralized MAR:
Building ResilienceBuilding Resilience
Large number of Check dams built by
community with government support
utfi.iwmi.orgutfi.iwmi.org
community, with government support
Underground Taming of Floods for Underground Taming of Floods for Irrigation: Pilot, Irrigation: Pilot, UP, IndiaUP, India

27. WaterWater‐‐Energy NexusEnergy Nexus
Irrigation Structures Overdraft
Electrification
Irrigation Structures
(5000/dot
250000 India: Number of Electric 200000
India: Electricity Use in
Groundwater Irrigation
100000
150000
200000 Pumps: 1970‐2015
100000
150000
Groundwater Irrigation
(m kWh)
0
50000
1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
0
50000
1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
No. of electric pumps in irrigation use (100)
Tofal Electricity Use in Agriculture (m kWh)

28. WaterWater‐‐Energy Nexus:Energy Nexus:
Iterative Problems and SolutionsIterative Problems and SolutionsIterative Problems and SolutionsIterative Problems and Solutions
Energy Subsidy Problems
• Water: Unsustainable aquifer depletionWater: Unsustainable aquifer depletion
• Energy: Utilities unable to raise price and go bankrupt, power grid
decayed, energy supply became less reliable
$• Economic: Cost of subsidy is about ~ $9 billion/year
Solutions
Energy: Feeder separation and smart farm‐power rationingEnergy: Feeder separation and smart farm power rationing
Renewable energy use
Efficient pumping systems and matching of wells
• Sol
• Water: Community‐driven decentralized managed aquifer recharge
Water smart interventions

29. State wise Estimated Solar Power PotentialState wise Estimated Solar Power Potential
Total Solar Power in GWp: 748.98p

30. Solar Pumps: Possibility to Reality Solar Pumps: Possibility to Reality
Installed Solar Pumps till Number
2009‐10 1000
2015‐16 350000 5 6 35000
Till 2020 More than 1.5 Lakh Solar Pumps
India Targets 100 MW solar power by 2022 for achieving INDCsIndia Targets 100 MW solar power by 2022 for achieving INDCs
Subsidised solar pumps connected to grids and Net‐metering

31. Solar Solar PowerPower
Harnessing Harnessing the power of the Sun the power of the Sun Harnessing Harnessing the power of the Sun the power of the Sun
SPaRCSPaRC –– Solar Power as a Solar Power as a
Remunerative Crop Remunerative Crop
An innovative concept which linksAn innovative concept which links
farmer’s solar irrigation pump to the
electricity grid presenting farmer
with the choice to sell the surplus
powerpower
SPICE SPICE –– Solar Pump Solar Pump IrrigatorsIrrigators’ ’
Cooperative Cooperative EnterpriseEnterprise
Institutionalizing the idea of
SPaRC through a cooperative
model
BACK ^

32. Climate Smart and Remunerative Solar Climate Smart and Remunerative Solar
IrrigationIrrigationIrrigationIrrigation
Enhanced access toEnhanced access to
ground ground water for water for
small small holdersholders
The opportunityThe opportunity
Triple wins Triple wins
• Reduction in greenhouse gas emissions
• India has 130,000 GW of installed pumping
capacity in the form of electric and diesel tube
wells
• Sustainable solar irrigation pumps with feed‐in
Reduction in greenhouse gas emissions
• Sustainable use of groundwater
• Water access & income to farmers
The result The result
• Launch of the world’s first Solar Pump
tariff for selling excess electricity to the grid
Launch of the world s first Solar Pump
Irrigation Cooperative (SPICE)

33. PradhanPradhan MantriMantri KrishiKrishiPradhan Pradhan MantriMantri KrishiKrishi
SinchayeeSinchayee YojanaYojana
PMKSY
HarHar KhetKhet KoKo PaaniPaaniHarHar KhetKhet KoKo PaaniPaani
Moving from fragmented approach to
converged ‘end to end’ solutionco e ged e d to e d so ut o

34. Focus: End to End Solution to Irrigation Supply
Chain
Focus: End to End Solution to Irrigation Supply
Chain
• Rain water harvesting /Micro storage e.g. ponds/tanks.
Water Sources
ChainChain
• Community water tanks/check dams.
• Secondary storage structures (Diggie)
• Groundwater sources‐Dug wells/Tube wells
pply Chain
• River lift irrigation
• Cement Nala Bund, Kolhapuri Gate
rigation Sup
• Command Area Development
• Underground pipe conveyance system
thening Irr
Distribution
ffi i• Drip & Sprinkler System;
• Cropping alignment, on‐farm development
• Efficient and energy saving (e.g. solar powered) water
Strengt
Water Use Efficiency
gy g ( g p )
lifting devices
Source: DAC

35. I di ’ M I i i D i d Di i
IWMIIWMI‐‐TATA Policy PaperTATA Policy Paper
India’s Most Irrigation Deprived Districts
India’s most irrigation deprived districts are
primarily located in Central Indian Tribal 112 out of the 126 districts have unutilized p y
Highlands, Rajasthan and the Deccan region GW potential for future irrigation
development
Source: Tushaar et. Al. 2016

36. IWMIIWMI‐‐TATA Research: Rethinking PMKSY TATA Research: Rethinking PMKSY
• PMKSY’s current avtar is a convergence of pre‐
existing schemes with indifferent track record;
• Instead of spreading resources thin PMKSY shouldInstead of spreading resources thin, PMKSY should
focus on unirrigated half of India’s agrarian
landscape: 112 most irrigation‐deprived districts
(<30% irrigated holdings);
• Quickest and most cost‐effective way of providing
irrigation to these is by helping them make a
well/borewell and acquire a pump with
distribution pipe;distribution pipe;
• 105 out of the 112 irrigation deprived districts are
notified by CGWB as ‘safe’ (<70% groundwater
development);
• Key new opportunities:
• Solar irrigation pumps; and
• Reuse of municipal wastewater in p
agriculture

37. Convergence for Better Use of
W i A i l
Last Mile Coverage of Irrigation
Water in Agriculture Project
Water lifting device
on dug well in Damoh. Water being released from Kutni
dam to feeder canal in chattarpur
Farmers lifting water from feeder
canaldam to feeder canal in chattarpur
district.
canal.
Mi i i ti dMicro irrigation and crop
diversification, Damoh.
Farmers irrigating wheat crop
from the pannchampur Minor.
A good stand of wheat crop.

38. Synergy between INDCs and SDGsSynergy between INDCs and SDGs
INDCs & Water
• Enhancing efficient use of
water (WUE by 20%)
• Ensure water access
• Water harvesting & GWWater harvesting & GW
recharge
• Wastewater reuse (also
source of nutrients)
2.3 Doubling Agri Production
2.4 Resilient Agri products
13.1 Adaptive capacity to CC
13.2 Integrating CC measures
3.3 Capacity development on CC
source of nutrients)
• Increased forest/tree cover
(C sink of 2.5‐3 bil. t of CO2
equivalent)
• Solar pumps (100K)
l
15.1 Sustainable Eco‐sys
15 3 C b d d i
7.1 Access to renewable 1.5 Reducing vulnerability
Harmonize complementarities 15.3 Combat degradation energy

39. Key Messages Key Messages
• Improving irrigation performance to enable reduced diversions &
return flows and enhanced livelihoods and food security.
• Combination of supply augmentation and demand management• Combination of supply augmentation and demand management
• Canal fed pressurized irrigation
• Mainstreaming of emerging innovations and technologies• Mainstreaming of emerging innovations and technologies
through on‐going National/State programs/schemes
• DSS integrating hydrologic, agronomy and socio‐economic models
• Promote use of ICT in irrigation management
• Modernization and revitalization of irrigation systems
• Greater emphasis on use of solar irrigation
• Capitalize on co‐benefits of mitigation through conjunctive
t f t dmanagement of water and energy

40. Th k !Th k !Thank you!Thank you!
Email ‐ a.sikka@cgiar.org