Panaji: Over a period of 12 years, minor irrigation schemes in Goa have declined by 20.9% to 6,133. Altogether, 739 (15%) groundwater schemes and 883 (30%) surface water schemes were no longer in use in the state, according to the Union Jal Shakti ministry’s data. The ministry’s report states that irrigation potential utilised in Goa had declined by 3.7% compared to the last evaluation in 2013-14.
The data on Goa is especially worrisome as at the national level, both groundwater and surface water schemes have increased by 6.9% and 1.2% respectively. Dug wells, shallow, medium, and deep tube wells, surface flow, and surface lift are irrigation water schemes and the data on them was gathered across the country for effective planning and policymaking in this sector.
“Many ‘in use’ schemes were under-utilised due to various constraints. Among 472 under-utilised schemes, 292 are groundwater schemes and 180 are surface water schemes,” states the Jal Shakti ministry’s report.
“The major factor contributing to constraints in the utilisation of groundwater schemes is reported to be ‘less discharge of water’ followed by the non-availability of finance.”
The report also states that most individual-owned irrigation schemes, 90%, are financed by farmers themselves in Goa. Govt funded only 2.5% or 42 of the individual-owned irrigation schemes, another 4.5% or 74 were funded through bank loans, and the remaining through moneylenders and other sources.
In the case of Goa, the major reasons for the decline in the irrigation schemes were reported as the non-availability of adequate power, less discharge of water, siltation of storage, and non-availability of finance for groundwater schemes.
Most irrigation schemes were reported to be under individual ownership and not under groups of farmers. Of the 6,133 minor irrigation schemes, 82.8% (5,078) continue to remain under individual ownership and 11.1% (678) schemes are owned by groups of farmers.
Only a small chunk of 6.1% (377) of minor irrigation schemes in Goa are publicly owned, the data says.
The ministry’s report states that the data shows the need to strengthen the network of minor irrigation structures for irrigation to improve the livelihood of small and marginal farmers.
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