Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
Water Conservation in Lower Brahmaputra Valley Zone of Assam - Need, Prospects and Problems with special reference to Kamrup
(Rural) District
By-
Manoshi Goswami
&
Purabi Bharali
Gauhati Commerce College, Guwahati
Introduction
Water is crucial for growth & development of crops.
Availability or scarcity of water in crop fields effect the success of crops.
Thus it plays a vital role in agricultural prosperity.
Indian Agriculture- an Overview
Mostly RAINFED,
Depends mainly on MONSOONAL rainfall to meet the demand of water
Monsoon period – high rainfall with excess of water leading to Flood
Post Monsoon and winter season experience very less rainfall causing water scarcity in agricultural areas.
Objectives
Why we need water conservation?
What are the most important resources available?
What are the prospect of successful water conservation measures?
What may be the problems?
Study Area
Kamrup (Rural) District issituated between 25.460 and26.490 North Latitude andbetween 90.480 & 91.500 EastLongitude.
It has a total geographical areaof 4, 34,500 acres.
Agroclimatically the regionfalls under the LowerBrahmaputra Valley Zone
The dominant farming systemof the district include paddycultivation with all the threecrops during the year i.e.Sali, Ahu and Boro paddy.
Parameter Value/Details
Rainfall 1700mm
Temperature Maximum- 31.3 – 33.0 0C
Minimum – 8.0 -13.5 0 C
Relative Humidity 78-80%
Soil type Alluvial, Sandy (18.08%)
Sandy Loam (39.28%)
Total cultivated area 2,51,156 ha
Net Irrigated area 58,239 ha
Source: www.kamrup.nic.in
www.aau.asc.in/dee/kvkkamrup/agril_in_kamrup.html
Why………….
(Need of Water Conservation)
Mostly under rainfed agriculture
Irrigation is available at only 19-23% of the area
Post monsoon and winter period receive very less amount of rainfall than the monsoon season.
Soils of the district have lower water holding capacity
Identified as one of the potential drought prone areas with the probability of moderate to severe drought.
Depletion of ground water level
Seasonal Variation of rainfall over the years
Season Year
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
mm % to
annual
RF
mm % to
annual RF
mm % to
annual RF
mm % to
annual RF
mm % to
annual RF
Pre
Monsoon
472.6 39.75 541.1 28.6 441.4 27.6 372.3 25.8 849.8 40.1
Monsoo
n
570.8 48.01 1097.1 58.1 997.0 62.3 939.5 65.2 1190.3 56.1
Post
Monsoon
127.2 10.7 161.1 8.5 115.6 7.2 122.7 8.5 81.0 3.8
Winter 18.2 1.53 90.1 4.7 45.6 2.9 5.8 0.04 0.5** 0.02
Total
Annual
Rainfall
1188.8 1889.4 1599.6 1440.3 2121.6
Source: Hydromet Division, Indian Meteorological Dept.
Prospects
The region is having a rich source of water resourcesin terms of perennial rivers, tributaries, minorstreams and wetlands which have the potential tosupply sufficient amount of water to the needyareas.
Five major rivers
Highest area under wetlands
Highest area under marshy/swampy land
Significant number of pond/tanks
High amount of rainfall is received during theMonsoon season
Rain Water Harvesting
Is the system of collecting and storing excess amount ofrainfall received during the high rain period
Utilizing the same in the lean period
Water harvesting is a directly productive form of soil andwater conservation. It can also be regarded as a traditionalform of irrigation.
Two semi-urban areas Hajo and Sonapur in the districthave been reported with successful installation of Roof-top RWH for meeting daily consumption needs.
Various traditional systems of RWH exist in the district.
Traditional systems are cost effective and viable
These traditional methods can be used to meet thedemand of water in the agricultural sector
APATANI
BAMBOO DRIP IRRIGATION
ZABODONG*
POND*
Needs sufficient modification and scientific renovation.
TARPOULINE SHEET COVERED POND
PERCOLATION PIT
INJECTION WELL
Problems…………
Environmental Factors
o Gradual decline of surface water resources – shrinking of area, pollution, eutrophication, decline of reservoir capacity
o Climate change and reported decline of monsoonal rainfall
Socio-economic Factors
o financial condition of the farmers
o conservative attitude and resistance to adopt new technologies
o lack of awareness
Small land holding and other infra-structural problem
Lack of govt. initiatives
Lack of financial support
Inadequate agricultural policies
Inappropriate market economics
Conclusions & Recommendations
Onsite rain water harvesting systems
Community based harvesting structure construction and maintenance
Training and skill enhancement programmes
Improvement of existing RWH systems
Adoption of modern methodologies
References:
1.Water-The India Story; Report of Grail Research, LLC, 2009.
2.District Report, Kamrup, Baseline Survey of Minority Concentrated Districts,
www.icssr.org
3.Official Website of Kamrup District, www.kamrup.nic.in
4.Official Website of Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Kamrup,
www.aau.asc.in/dee/kvkkamrup/agril_in_kamrup.html
5.Directorate of Extention Education, AAU in www.aau.ac.in/dee/annextures6.php
6.Ranfall Data of Kamrup District, Hydromet Division, Indian Meteorological
Department
7.Soil Water Plant Relationship, Irrigation Engineering Principles, Version 2CE, IIT,
Kharagpur
8.Gore P.G, Prasad T and Hatwar .H.R., Mapping of Drought Areas Over India,
National Climate Centre Research Report, 2010
9.Faster, Sustainable & More Inclusive Growth, An Approach to the 12th Five Year
Plan, Planning Commission, 2011
10.Select Case Studies, Rain Water Harvesting & Artificial Recharge, Central
Ground Water Board, Ministry of Water Resource, 2011
11.Borthakur S, Traditional Rain Water Harvesting Techniques and its
Applicability, Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge, Vol.8(4),2009
12.Environmental Information System –Assam, Assam Science, Technology and
Environmental Council,
13Report on Wetlands, Planning Commission, India, 2008
14Gogoi R, Conserving Deepar Beel Ramsar Site, Assam, Current Science, Vol.93(4),
2007
15.ENVIS Newsletter, July-September, 2007
16.Bhowmik B.C, Sarma A.K. and Talukdar K.C, Farming System in Assam, 1999.
