Study No: 1

MAXIMISING THE USE OF AVAILABLE WATER IN CROP PRODUCTION

Summary

1.1 Description Of The Study Area

The objective of the study is to find out the current irrigation practices, present irrigation- water utilization pattern in well and tank irrigated areas, and the constraints at the field level in achieving greater efficiency and productivity.

1.1.1 Source Of Irrigation Water

The important sources of water irrigation are tanks and wells in the area that have been surveyed. The supply of water for the tanks is from different sources viz.

From excess rain water (Hale Dharmapuri) – Dharmapuri Block – Dharmapuri District) (Mdappalli – Thiruppattur Block – North Arcot Ambedkar District) (Vazhaikollai – Keerapalayam Block – South Arcot District) ( – Ayathiyapattinam Block – ) (Erumaipatti – Erumaipatti Block – Salem District).

Surplus from Chinnar reservoir (Hale Dharmapuri- Dharmapuri Block – Dharmapuri District) (Pabchapalli – Palakkodu Block – Dharmapuri District)

River like Palar River through “Vellakalvai” (Sadupperi and Abdullapuram – Block – North Arcot Ambedkar District)

Surplus Water from other tanks (Cheruvanki – Block – North Arcot Ambedkar District)

Excess water from Veeranam tank (Athinarayanapuram and Poovanikuppam – Kurinjipadi Block – South Arcot District) (Seruvathur and Eripalayam – Panruti Block – South Arcot District) (Dharamanalur – Kammapuram – South Arcot District)

Water from Neyveli mines (Athinarayanapuram and Poovanikuppam- Kurinjipadi Block - South Arcot District (Seruvathur and Eripalayam – Panruti Bnlock – South Arcot District) (Dharmalur – Kammapuram – South Arcot District).

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1.1.2 Conjunctive Use Of Water

Conjunctive use of water is practiced in number of places in the six regions where the survey was conducted:

Pallapalayam (Udumalpet Block - Coimbatore District ) – well and tank or canal.

Dhali (Udumalpet Block – Coimbatore District) well – and tank water

Odykulam (Anaimalai block – Coimbatore District) Parambikulam Aliyar Project (PAP) water for five months and well water for the rest of the period.

Deenampalayam ( Thondamuthur block – Coimbatore District) – Keel Chitirai Chavadi canal Water for four months and well water for the rest of the period

Kadayampatti (Kadayampatti block – Salem District) and Sirapalli (Namagiripettai block – Salem District) – well irrigation for one crop and rainfed crop as second crop.

Kadayampatti (Kadayampatti block – Salem district) – when some farmers go for three rice crops per year, tank water is used for raising first crop and well water for the second and third crops.

Peddanaickenpalayama ( Athur block – Salem District) – well and tank water.

Vazhaikollai ( Keerapalayam block- South Arcot District) Tank water and water from coleroon river.

1.1.3 Recharge of wells

Wells gets recharged during the flow of water in the canal and water in the tanks. The sources of recharge are:

Surface seepages (Sirapalli – Namagiripettai block Salem District) (Parayapatti – Harur Block – Dhamapuri District)

Recharge from seepage from Lower Bhavani Project (LBP) canal (Nasianur – Erode Block – Periyar District)

Recharge from rainwater and seepage water from LBP main canal (V.Vellodu – Chennimalai Block – Periyar District)

Recharge due to Canal Supply (MCS). The wells nearer to the tank are always full and exhibit a special phenomenon called locally as “Kadaiporadu”. This occurs when the tank is full and the well water comes to the ground level and water flows

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from wells outside. During this period of overflowing no pumping is done from the wells. The overflowing is used for irrigation. The water supply from MCS is for three to four months (September 15 – January 15). The tank water is available for the whole year. ( Thalakulam – Bhavani Block – Periyar District)

1.1.4 Methods Adopted By The Farmers To Achieve Higher Efficiency Of Water Utilisation

In addition to the usual methods of conveyance and utilization of water for crop production, the farmers have developed few techniques by themselves to achieve greater utilization of the limited water resources. Some of them are:

The farmers of Pallapalayam (Udumalapet block – Coimbatore District) convey the water from wells through underground cement pipeline to the field. By this they have observed significant saving of water and also ease of cultural operations.

In Vedapatti (Senthamangalam block – Salem District), the farmers have switched on to the “Kissan Hose” for suction and PVC pipes for delivery. This was found to reduce the problem of salts in the pipelines and also reduce the conveyance losses.

The Vellodu (Chennimali block – Periyar District), the farmers have common wells and water is shared in a system approach and water levels in the wells are high due to the seepage from LBP canal. This avoid digging of wells within a short distance reduces the financial outlay and also eliminates quarrels and other problems due to drift in water table.

In Chikkarasampalayam (Sathyamangalam block – Periyar District), few farmers have jointly purchased land, (about 50 to 60 cents) near Bhavani river basin at Sathyamangalam, which is 0.5km away from their field. They have dug wells in that land and the water is conveyed through pipelines to their fields. By this method of conveyance of irrigation water, quite a large area which was originally under dry crops have been converted to garden land for raising irrigated crops.

In Klalmarudur (Thirunallur block – South Arcot District) farmers either individually or jointly have constructed a storage pond in about 1/10th of their holding and they collect the excess runoff rain water. The height of the bunds of the storage tank is normally 1.5m. if the lands are sloppy, 1.8m length pipes are attached in ground level and by opening the pipe, water is let out and the fields irrigated by gravity. In areas

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with undulations, oil engines are used to pump out water from ponds. In this way about 40 to 50 percent of land is being cultivated.

1.1.5 Excess Use Of Water

As water is available in plenty in Pallapalayam (Udumalpet block – Coimbatore District) farmers are using higher depth of irrigation to sugarcane (upto 45cm depth), which is a wasteful practice.

Similarly in Dhali (Udumalpet block – Coimbatore District), coconut field is divided into small compartments each one having three to four trees and irrigation by flooding. Since plenty of water available for irrigation, the farmers adopt this method of irrigation. This wasteful practice is due to the lack of awareness on the part of the farmers about the possible future shortage of water and also other reasons like free electric etc.

1.1.6 Equity Distribution And Farmers Association

In number of places, traditionally some method or other is being followed to distribute the tank water equally among all the users. In certain other areas, these are done by convention and in certain other areas the farmers have started Farmer’s Association and through that they regulate the water supply. Some of the practices in vouge are given below:

In Kadayampatti (Kadayampatti block – Salem District) farmers themselves regulate the water supply to their fields. One set if farmers irrigate from 3.00am to 3.00pm and other set irrigate from 3.00pm to 3.00am. During the water scarity period some farmers owing wells do not use the tank water for irrigation in order to help the other farmers who are dependent on tank water only for irrigation.

In Peddaniackenpalayam ( block – Salem District) there is an local farmers organization called “Neervari (or) Pani Eri Pasana Vivasayigal Sangam”. The wage rate for the irrigation is 2.5 bags of paddy per ha.

In Annasagaram (Dharmapuri Blockj – Dharmapuri District) for equity distribution of tank water the farmers appoint “Thanni Katti” or “Neer Vettiyan” for irrigating their field and he is paid at the rate of 22 kg (4.9 vallams) of paddy by each farmer per ha.

In hale Dharmapuri (Dharmapuri Block – Dharmapuri District) for equity distribution of tank water, the farmers engage “Neer Vettiyan” and he is paid paddy at the rate of 22 kg per ha.

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In Panchapalli (Palakkodu block – Dharmapuri District) there is a local farmers association called “Panchapalli Eri Pasana Vivasayigal Sangam” for equity distribution of tank water. The irrigator appointed is called as “Lusker” and he is given a wage of 22 kg of paddi per ha.

In Sadupperi and Abdullapuram (Vellor block – North Aroct Ambedkar District) a Farmers” organization called “Cultivators association” exist in this area. The head of this organization is called “Kalvai Madaikkarar” and the water distribution is regulated by “Kambu Katti”. The water is supplied once in four or five days to each farmer. The duration of water supply depends on the extent of area owned by the farmer. The “Kambu Katti” is paid a wage of 24.7 kg of paddy per ha by each farmer.

In Aladi and Manakkolai (Virudhachalam Block – South Arcot District) for equity distribution of irrigation water one person is emplyed by the villagers.

In Pallapalayam ( Udumalpet block – Coimbatore, district) the tank water is available from August to May. During this period water will be uniformly given to farmers five hours per ha for irrigation.

In Ottapatti (Utangarai Block – Dharmapuri District) based on the water availability, the frequency of irrigations are decided by the farmers themselves.

However in some places there is no such system to regulate the supply fo water as in Peddanaickenpalayam (Attur Block – Salem District)

1.1.7 Water Marketing

In number of places wherever water is available or is in surplus in wells and tanks, they are either shared or sold to the nearby farmers. A few of such examples in areas surveyed are given below:

Water is sold at the rate of Rs.8 per hour of water flow (Peddanicken Palayam – Attur Block – Salem District): Rs.15 per hour of flow (Vazhaikollai – Keeraopalayam Block – South Arcot District) and Rs.10 to 15 per hour (Dharmanallur – Kammapuram Block – South Arcot District)

A wage rate of 33 percent of rice is to be given to the water seller or 25% of groundnut produce or Rs.1000/- to 1500/- for cotton (Seruvathur and Eripalayam – Panruti Block – South Arcot District)

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During the water scarcity period, water is borrowed from the near by well-irrigated farmers for a period of 16 hrs. Once in 15 days at cost of 33% of the produce or Rs.25/- per hour of water supply (Aladi and Manakkollai – Vridhachalam Block – South Arcot District)

1.1.8 Cropping Pattern / System

The cropping systems are modified by the farmers depending upon the availability of water. Few of such instances are briefly indicated below:

Pallapalyam (Udumalpet Block – Coimbatore District) The tank water is available for 10 months the farmers prefer to raise a short duration Sugarcane variety like CoC- 671, which matures in 10 months.

Some farmers prefer to grow coconut due to labour problem instead of sugarcane.

Nasianur (Erode Block – Periyar District) In years when water is nto available in LBP Canal they grow crops using well water. During the summer when water is available in the LBP, water is allowed for raising a gingelly crop, which requires only three irrigations at its critical stagte of crop growth.

Thalakulam (Bhavani Block – Periyar District) Due to seepage of water from well, farmers do not grow banana. Clayepy nature of the soil makes the sucker removal operation as a difficult one.

Thuthikulam (Senthamangalam Block – Salem District) – The rice variety ambal-5 is being grown by a few farmers against this saline water. The well-irrigated farmers mostly grow sorghum as rain-fed crop and cotton and ground net as irrigated one.

Some farmers raise mulberry for rearing silkworm. Black-gram, horse-gram and gingili are also grown.

Mango in 0.81ha has been raised by a farmer using sprinkler units. This farmer is using his sprinkler unit for groundnut also.

Wherever tapioca is being grown the farmers have to harvest to tapioca when it is six to seven months old due to the excess seepage water from the tank. They could not leave the tapioca for nine to ten months. Due to this they get a low yield of 11120 to 12973kg per ha whereas if the crop is allowed to maturity they will get yield of 18533 to 27799kg per ha.

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Banana is not being preferred by the ryots even though there is water available due to the difficultly of removal of suckers which is a time and labour consuming process.

Erumaipatti (Erumapatti block – Salem District) – Sugarcane, banana and cotton where grown 15 years back. Due to water scarcity farmers switched to crops which required less water. Since the duration of modern sunflower is only 75 days, the cost of cultivation is less and the seeds are produced by the department at a better price.

Parayapatti (Harur Block – Dharmapuri Districts) – Well-irrigated farmers grow tapioca, groundnut and cotton. If adequate water is available they grow rice for one season. Under normal availability of water the frequency of irrigation is once a week but under limited water availability the frequency interval is increased depending upon the water availability.

Annasagaram ( Dharmapuri Block – Dharmapuri District)- Tank water is available only for 6 months during normal rainfall years. Using well water, farmers grow crops like rice, groundnut, sugarcane, tapioca, finger millet, etc. If sufficient water is not available farmers raise crops like sorghum, pearl millet, finger millet and groundnut as rainfed crops.

Baleguli (Kaveripattinam Block – Dharmapuri District) – Two crops of rice, are taken when sufficient water is available from the tank. For the past 12 years only obne crop of rice alone was raised due to low rainfall. If water is available, Paiyur-1 rice is raised in first season and Bhavani rice in the second season. Few farmers raise sugarcane because of salinity conditions.

Athinarayanapuram and poovanikuppam (Kurinjipaddi Block – South Arcot District) – The well-irrigated farmers follow a cropping pattern to rice, groundnut, gingelly. If the water is not available they grow only groundnut followed by gingelly.

Casurina also grown widely by the farmers in the garden and dry lands. This crop stand in the field for 5 years and it yield an yield of 74 tonnes per ha at harvest.

Panchapalli (Palakkodu Block – Dharmapuri District) – Wind erosion is a problem during “Navari” season. The harvesting period (March – May) of rice coincides with heavy wind, which cause severe damage and loss in yield. Farmers prefer Bhavanai rice since it is tolerant to heavy winds.

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Kongarpalaym (Thukkanickanpalayam Block – Periyar District) – Nearly 75% of the Soil in Thukkanickanpalayam are saline and the yield of the crop is reduced.

Madappalli (Thiruppattur Block- North Arcot Ambedkar District) and Nasianur (Erode Block – Periyar District) – the problem faced by these area farmers are non- availability and water scarcity.

Inadequate labour, water scarcity and in some places high wage rate are the major problems in most of the locations.

1.1.9 Constrains at Field Level In Water Management

Though the farmers realized the benefit of certain innovations and also the need to maximize the need to use of available water resources and increase crop production, still they are unable to do so due to various constrains that operate at the field level. Some of the important ones are:

1.1.9.1 Power Supply

One of the problems the farmers are facing is the frequent power cut. This causes frequent burning of the coil in the pump sets and consequent break down in irrigation and also increased need to have always liquid assets and transportation to meet emergencies (Odykulam – Anaimalai Block – Coimbatore District).

Because of the more number of borwells and use of high HP (350 volts) engines, voltage supply is not sufficient. This leads to less output of water and at times burning of coil in the motor. (Seruvathur and Eripalayam – Panruti Block – South Arcot District)

1.1.9.2 Credit Availability

Non-availability of credit (Vedapatti block – Perur block – Coimbatore District) or inadequate cdredit from banks (Deenampalayam – Thondamuthur block – Coimbatore District) for bore well erection is one of the main constrains for the farmers in erection of bore wells and increasing the irrigated area.

The farmers are not able to get loans from nationalized and other banks for deepening of shallow wells, which are 6.1m to 9.1m deep. (Ottapatti – Utangarai block – Dharmapuri District).

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1.1.9.3 DRIP

Though the farmers concede that drip irrigation is useful still many of the farmers of the Dhali (Udumalpet block) have reservations about its utility because of the initial heavy investment and also the possibility of heavy losses if the crops are subjected to drip irrigation at later stages of growth instead of from the start.

Also the farmers of Odykulam (Anaimali block – Coimbatore District) felt that as on date the damage by rats and squirrels is so heavy that it may not be worth putting the drip irrigation systems.

Similarly the farmers of Vedapatti (Perur block – Coimbatore District) felt that soil and dust clogging in drip outlet is the major problem in drip irrigation systems and need to be looked into.

1.1.9.4 IRRIGATION WATER

Kongarpalayam (Thukkanaickanpalayam block – Periyar District) – Many of the farmers are not willing to utilize the tank water due to some problems that arise with neighbours. Each farmer wants to have separate sub-channel and sluice for their fields.

Also some of the tanks irrigated farmers are not willing to use the tank water because the water is available only for 4 months and that to sufficient for one or two acres but they have to pay for the entire tank irrigated fields.

Siltations in the tank also arrest the percolation of water, which in turn reduce flow to wells. Forest department is not interested to desilt the tank and they did not allow remove the silt for application to fields. Non-power supply to motor pump sets is also a major problem in this area.

Seruvathur and Eripalayam (Panruti block – South Arcot District) and Sirapalli (Namagiripettai block – Salem District) – In many of the areas the sulices are damaged and had not been maintained properly. Because of this the available water could not be utilized fully.

Eripalayam (Panruti block – South Arcot District) – Due to over encroachment in the feeding channel the tank has not filled up every year.

Athinarayanapuram and Poovanikuppam (Kurinjipadi block – South Arcot District) and Ananthalai ( block – North Arcot Ambedkar District) – The tanks in this

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location have not been destiled and the tank areas have been encroachment these have added to the poor utilization of the tank water.

Nallenagoudan Pudur (Madathukulam block – Coimbatore District) – Sometimes constriction of dams across some rivers or canals can also have adverse effect. One of the examples is the Kudirai Aru Dam constructed across the Kudirai Aru River. Before the construction of “Kuthirai Aru” dam the tank was fed directly by the “Kuthirai Aru” river. But after the dam construction in 1991 water was allowed to fill this tank, after filling two tanks in some other villages. This has resulted in starving of the tank for water and heavy loss occurred due to lack of water in the tank. Hence agriculture was not effective and profitable one during the last two years (1990 and 1991).

1.1.9.5 PROBLEM WATERS

Nasianur (Erode block – Periyar District) – waterlogging is an important problem along the LBP canal. Drainage water from dyeing factories mix with the water of “Chithankuttal” and cause harm to crops and animals.

Sadupperi and Abdullapuram ( – North Arcot Ambedkar District) – The well water are slightly salty which might be due to the effort of effluent of the tannery factories located around the area.

Thuthikulam (Senthamangalam block – Salem District) – The problem in the water is due to its high salt content. The tank bund is weak and most of the water got wasted through seepage.

The salt content of the well water increases as the distance of the well from the tank increases. Some of the wells exhibit this quality, which affect the germination and metallic pipes submerged in the wells. Due to this the suction and delivery pipes in the wells have to be changed once a year.

Sirapalli (Namagiripettai block – Salem District) and Gettisamudaram (Andhiyur block – Periyar District) – Salt incrustation in compressor and pipes has been a problem in this area.

1.2.SURVEY RESULTS

The data collected from the farmers in the district were analysed with respect to each of the specific objectives for each taluk of the district. General characteristics of the respondents with regard to their socioeconomic aspects are essential to have a better

Page 10 understanding of the implications of the results. It will provide a good comprehension of the backgrounf of farmers. The survey was conducted in Coimbatore, Periyar, Salem, Dharmapuri, North Arcot Ambedkar and South Arcot districts.

1.2.1. AGE DISTRIBUTION OF SAMPLE FARMERS

The respondents were categorized into different age groups viz., less than 30 years, 30 to 60 years and more than 60 years.

Less than 8% farmers of tank and well-irrigated area belonged to less than 30 years age group; less than 25 % farmers belonged to above 60 years age group and the remaining farmers belonged to 30 to 60 years age group.

1.2.2. EDUCATIONAL LEVEL OF SAMPLE FARMERS

Nearly 40% farmers of tank and well-irrigated area had primary school education; less than 10% farmers collegiate education; nearly 45% had secondary School education and the remaining persons are illiterates.

1.2.3. FARMING EXPERIENCE OF SAMPLE FARMERS

Among the farmers of tank and well-irrigated area, nearly 33% had 21 to 40 years farming experience; 40% had 11 to 20 years experience; 2% had more than 40years experience and the remaining farmers had less than 10 years experience.

1.2.4. LAND, SOIL TYPES AND CROPS IN SAMPLE FARMS

The type of land and soil influence the crop chosen for cultivation.

In Coimbatore district tank irrigated area 60% of land holding of big farms are red soil garden land area, and the remaining 40% are black soil wet land area were rice, sugarcane and coconut were the major crops and the cropping intensity was 103.72%.

Nearly 50% tank irrigated area small farms are black soil wet lands and 50% red soil garden plants. Rice and sugarcane were the major crops grown in these farms with 140.57% cropping intensity.

¾ of total land holding in marginal farms of tank irrigated areas are black soil wetlands and the remaining ¼ area were red soil garden area. Where rice and sugarcane were the major crops and the cropping intensity was 111.93%.

Nearly 80to 85% of the farms of well-irrigated area are garden lands and 10% areas are wetlands. Page 11

Millets, groundnut, sugarcane and coconut were the major crops and the cropping intensity was 102% in big farm. Millets, sugarcane and coconut were the major crops in the small farm and the cropping intensity was 132.08%. Millets, and groundnut were the major crops with cropping intensity of 159.81% in marginal farms of well-irrigated area.

Among the big and marginal farms of well-irrigated area 55% area were red soil area and 43% black soil area. In case of small farms of well-irrigated area 72% are red soil and 22% are black soil area.

In Perriyar district nearly 55% land holdings off big and marginal farms of tank irrigated area of garden land and 40% are wetland were rice, millets, and groundnut were the major crops with nearly 100% cropping intensity. Regarding the soil type 62% are black soil area and 36% are red soil area.

In small farms of tank irrigated area garden land accounted for 64% and wet land accounted for 36%; 46% are red soil area and 54% are black soil area. Rice and sugarcane were the major crops and the cropping intensity was 105.85% in these farms.

In farms of well-irrigated area garden lands accounted for67%, 87% and 80% in big, small and marginal farms respectively. The wetland accounted for 20%, 11% and 16% respectively under big, small and marginal farms.

Rice and coarse grains, ground nut and sugarcane are the major crops and the cropping intensity was 80.30% in big farms; groundnut and rice were the major crops with 106.58% and 148.16% cropping intensities in small and marginal farms in well irrigated areas respectively.

Regarding soil types 55% of the area of big and marginal farms well-irrigated area are red soil and 45% are black soil. In small farms of well-irrigated area 50% land holding red soil and 47% land area are black soil.

In Salem district wetland accounted for 68%, 63%, and 57% and Garden land accounted for 24%, 36% and 43% under big, small and marginal respectively under tank irrigated area.

Rice, millets groundnut were the major crops with a cropping intensity of 106.52% and 145.28% in big and marginal farms respectively. Rice and groundnut were the major crops and the cropping intensity was 107.14%, in small farms of tank irrigated area.

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In farms of well irrigated area garden land accounted for 53%, 63% and 76% and wet land accounted for 40%,. 35% and 24% under big, small and marginal farms respectively

Rice, groundnut, cotton and tapioca were the major crops and the cropping intensity was 82.9% in big farms. Rice, groundnut and cotton were the major crops and the cropping intensity was 104.20% in small farms. Rice and millets were the major crops with 134.5% cropping intensity in the marginal farm of well irrigated area.

Regarding soil types in tank irrigated area black soil accounted for 84%, 77% and 77% and red soil accounted for 16%, 21%, and 21% under big, small and marginal farms respectively.

In case of farms of well-irrigated area, black soil accounted for 49%, 65% and 53% and red soil accounted for 46%, 35% and 47% under big, small and marginal farms respectively.

In Dharumapuri district under tank irrigated area wetland occupied 68%, 75% and 100% under big, small and marginal farms respectively and garden land occupied 26% and 21% under big and small farms respectively.

Rice, groundnut and sugarcane were the major crops and the cropping intensity was 109.32% in big farms. Rice, groundnut and cotton were the major crops and the cropping intensity was 129.14% in small farms but rice, was the major crop with 171.08% cropping intensity in marginal farms to tank irrigated area.

Black soil accounted 72%, 64% and 67% in big, small and marginal farms respectively and red soil accounted 28%, 36% and 33% in big, small and marginal farms respectively in tank irrigated area.

Wetland occupied 27%, 25% and 23% in big, small and marginal farms of well irrigated area and garden land occupied 56%, 66% and 68% in big, small and marginal farms respectively in well irrigated area.

Regarding soil type, black soil accounted 67%, 44% and 61% in big, small and marginal farms respectively in well-irrigated area. Red soil accounted 33%, 55% and 39% in big, small and marginal farms respectively in well irrigated area.

Rice, groundnut, cotton and mango were the major crops and the cropping intensity was 86.18% in big farms; rice, groundnut, millets and cotton were the major crops and cropping intensity was 120.02% in small farms and rice, millets and groundnut were the major crops and the cropping intensity was 147.51% in marginal farms of well irrigated area.

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In North Arcot Ambedkar District wetland accounted 70% in big and small farms and 69% in marginal farms of tank irrigated area.

Garden land accounted 24% in big and small farms and 31% in marginal farms of tank irrigated area.

Rice, sugarcane and cotton were the major crops and cropping intensities are 105.08% and 120.06% respectively in big and small farms. Rice, cotton and banana were the major crops and the cropping intensity was 117.24 in marginal farms of tank-irrigated area.

Black soil occupied 46%, 50% and 47% in big, small and marginal farms respectively in tank irrigated area.

Red soil occupied 41%, 37% and 51% in big, small and marginal farms in tank irrigated area respectively.

In well-irrigated area wetland accounted 65% in big and marginal farms and 70% in small farms.

In the same area garden land accounted 33% in big and marginal farms and 26% in small farms.

In well irrigated wetland area rice, groundnut and cotton, sugarcane and banana were the major crops and the cropping intensities were 90.20% and 99.24%respectively under big and marginal farms. Rice, groundnut, sugarcane and banana were the major crops and the cropping intensity was 98.26% in small well irrigated farms.

Regarding soil type black soil accounted 67%, 47% and 60% in big, small and marginal farms of well irrigated area whereas red soil accounted 22%, 57% and 30% in big, small and marginal farms respectively.

In South Arcot, wetland accounted 65% and garden land accounted 16% in big farms where rice and sugarcane were the major crops and the cropping intensity was 100.78%.

Wetland accounted nearly 85% and garden land accounted 11% in small and marginal farms of tank irrigated area.

Rice was the major crop and the cropping intensities were 145.58% and 136% respectively in small and marginal farms of tank-irrigated area.

In tank irrigated area black soil accounted 77%, 85% and 94% and red soil accounted 18%, 12% and 6% under big, small and marginal farms respectively.

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Wetland accounted 24% and garden land accounted 72% in big, small and marginal farms of well irrigated area where rice, groundnut and sugarcane were the major crops but the cropping intensities were 105.56% and 127.62% and 132.96% respectively.

In well-irrigated area black soil occupied 53%, 55% and 65% and red soil occupied 38%, 43% and 23% under big, small and marginal farms.

1.2.5. IRRIGATION FACILITES

The total number of wells increased when size of land holding increases and the total number of wells in farms of well irrigated area were higher than the number of well in farms of tank irrigated area. The total number of wells in South Arcot are less than other districts.

Coil burn was the major problem in all areas than shaft and bush bearing problems. Awareness and adoption of pumpset insurance was high in Coimbatore and South Arcot districts than other districts where none of the small and marginal farmers of tank irrigated area adopted level was low in marginal farmers than big and small farmers. Lack of awareness was the main reason for non-adoption of this practice.

1.2.6. AGRICULTURAL OFFICERS CONTACT

The frequency of contact with the technical officers of the department of the agriculture will influence knowledge base of the farmers on irrigation water management and crop production.

Most of the farmers of tank and well irrigated area contacted the agricultural officers either once a week or once in 15 days.

1.2.7. ADOPTION OF IRRIGATION TECHNOLOGIES

Few farmers of tank and well irrigated area used cement pipe, PVC pipe, air vent, and diversion box for irrigation. The adoption levels of these practices are low in marginal farmers then in big and small farmers.

1.2.8. WASTE PRODUCTS UTILISATION

The waste products can be utilized for several uses. Rice and millet straw were used as cattle feed or used for sales or for both. Groundnut Haulm was used as cattle feed or used for sales. Sugarcane trash was used as fuel or it was burnt in the field itself after

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harvest of the crop or it was used for thatching roof. Coir pith was used for sales and only a very few farmers used it as mulch or used as fuel.

1.2.9. INPUT CONSTRAINTS

Availability of labour, water and pest and diseases were the major input constraints in farmers of tank irrigated and well irrigated area in Coimbatore district.

In farms of Periyar district availability of labour and water were the major input constraints.

Availability of water, labour, seed, fertilizers, pest and diseases, pesticides, machineries and inadequate finance and marketing facilities were the major problems Salem, Dharmapuri, North Arcot Ambedkar districts.

1.2.10. REASONS FOR ADOPTION AND CONSTRAINTS OT CROPS

There are several reasons for adopting a particular crop.

Rice, sugarcane, cotton and sugarcane were the major crops in all the six districts. Area suitability, recognition by others, availability of seed and market were the major reasons for adoption of rice crop. In addition to the factors availability of market, increased income and yield were the major reasons for adoption of groundnut, cotton and sugarcane crops.

Lack of market and fair price were the major reasons for non-adoption of millets in most area.

The constraints in the adoption of crops are as noted below.

More labour requirement was the major constraints in adoption of rice crop.

High cost of fertilizer, pesticides and lack of fair price were the constraints in adoption of groundnut crop.

More labour requirement, high cost of pesticides, fertilizers, lack of credit, low water availability were the constraints in adoption of cotton and sugarcane crops.

Lack of fair price was the major constraint in adoption of tapioca.

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