(Khapttr-4

Micro Irrigation System

(MIS) in Qujarat
 CHAPTER - IV
Micro - Irrigation System (MIS) in Gujarat
Conjunctive use of available water resources and optimising the
utilization per unit of water have became the crucial need in
agriculture and horticulture sectors and micro irrigations methods
with possible ways and means to conserve irrigations waters and
optimising the utility of every unit of water have came in to
existence. Among many such micro irrigation methods drip and
sprinkler systems besides the others systems have came out with
proven successes and attracted funding from government by way
of subsidy and institutional financial agencies by way of credit.

The Gujarat’s agriculture faces the problems of acute water

shortage and severely inadequate irrigations facilities. Out of an
utter more than 105 lakh hectares (ha) of the grass cropped area in
the state, only about 25 lakh ha are irrigated. The total irrigated
area is expected to double on the completion of Narmada: Sardar
Sarovar Narmada Project (SSNP). Leaving still about 50 per cent
(%) of the state’s agriculture rain fed. About 14 districts of the
state fall under semi arid or arid zones where water shortage is a
regular feature and that gets worse during the years of monsoon
failure. The problem of water shortage is steadily worsening in the
state. Quite often during the drought years the farmers with their
famihes and cattle migrate to others places or to relief camps. Such
migrations can save only their lives and not the farms and orchards
which perish in the droughts.

This situation promoted the farmers and the state to resort to

various means to overcome it. The four consecutive years of
drought in the state in the latter half of the 1980’s was a milestone
in the history of MIS irrigations in the state. That period witnessed
large scale migration of people and cattle in search of water and

;98
 greenery. Several thousands of hectares of farms perished in the
drought. This was a period when optimization of available water
became a major concern. MIS irrigation came on the agenda of the
state Government in a more vigorous way. In the state, prior to
1990 only a few farmers of Bhavanagar district had adopted MIS
(Drip) irrigation schemes. The Government of Gujarat (GOG) sent
a delegation to Maharashtra in 1990 to study the benefits of drip
irrigations systems as it was expanding rapidly there. On the basis
of the recommendation of the delegation the government prepared
an action plan for aiding drip irrigation. Among other things, the
action plan suggested to raise the subsidy limit and extend the
subsidy provision to all sections of the farmers. This was the
beginning of a sizable expansion of drip irrigation in the state,
considerable amount of subsidy encouraged farmers to go in for
drip irrigation system. In addition to the efforts of the central and
state governments, the organizations like national committee on
use of plastics in agriculture (NCPA), IPCL and manufacturers of
drip system have also played an important role in propagating the
use of drip irrigation system. Farmers were persuaded to adopt drip
irrigation system to utilize every drop of water scientifically. The
above said agencies have organized demonstrations and extension
programmes on a large scale. All these factors together contributed
significantly to a considerable expansion of drip irrigation in the
state.

4.1 Analysis Based on Whole Population:

Number of drip sets and area coverage as pointed out earlier, the
number of MIS drip and sprinkler sets in the state was insignificant
before 1990. The number of MIS irrigation sets installed in the
state 1989-90 to 2005-06 is shown in table 5.1. As can be seen
from the table, before 1990 there were only eight MIS sets in the
state. But from 1990 onwards there has been a steady increase in
the number of MIS (drip and sprinkler) sets.

99
 Table 4.1

MIS Adoption Trend

MIS (Drip and Sprinkler sets installed (Nos.)
YEAR TOTAL
1989-90 8
1990-91 236
1991-92 1154
1992-93 2025
1993-94 1742
1994-95 2152
1995-96 3124
1996-97 2977
1997-98
to 8471
2005-06
TOTAL 21889
(source: Directorate o f Agriculture and Horticulture, Krushi Bhavan, Gandhinagar and
GGRC, Vadodara, Gujarat).

Installed every year up to the end of March 2006 a total of 21889

MIS (drip and sprinkler sets) have been installed in agriculture and
horticulture purposes.

4.2 District Covered and Number of

Beneficiaries:
From the year 1989-90 to March 2006 department of Agriculture,
Horticulture and GGRC issued work order to 21889 beneficiaries
from 24 districts to install MIS in their fields. There were no
beneficiaries from Dangs.

100
 Table 4.2
District Wise Number of Beneficiaries in the State of Gujarat
Sr. No. District Total Percentage
1 Ahmedabad 810 3.70
2 Amreli 992 4.53
3 Anand 143 0.65
4 Banaskantha 859 3.93
5 Bharuch 527 2.41
6 Bhavanagar 2884 13.16
7 Dahod 66 0.30
8 Dangs NIL
9 Gandhinagar 320 1.46
10 Jamnagar 1698 7.76
11 Junagadh 2773 12.67
12 Kheda 372 1.70
13 Kutch 952 4.35
14 Mehsana 405 1.85
15 Narmada 109 0.50
16 Navasari 271 1.25
17 Panchmahal 50 0.23
18 Patan 112 0.51
19 Porbandar 170 0.78
20 Rajkot 3737 17.07
21 Sabarkantha 1844 8.43
22 Surat 626 2.86
23 Surendranagar 740 3.38
24 Vadodara 688 3.14
25 Valsad 741 3.38
Total 21889 100.00
(source: Directorate o f Agriculture and Horticulture, Krushi Bhavan, Gandhinagar and
GGRC, Vadodara, Gujarat).

Among the different districts the maximum number of

beneficiaries were from Rajkot (3737) followed by Bhavanagar
(2884) and Junagadh (2773). These three districts together
contribute to about 44 percent o f the total beneficiaries. Barring
these three districts no other districts had a contribution o f 10
percent or more. Sabarkantha (8.43), Jamnagar (7.76), Amreli
(4.53), Kutch (4.35), Banaskantha (3.93), Ahmedabad (3.70),
Surendranagar (3.38), Valsad (3.38) are the only districts

101
 registering between 3 and 10 percent of the beneficiaries. In each
of the districts of Anand, Dahod, Narmada, Panchmahal, Patan and
Porbandar, the number of beneficiaries were very low and less than
1 %.

4.3 District Wise Distribution of Types of Micro

Irrigation Systems (MIS):
Since the year of 1989-90 to March 2006, Department of
Agriculture, Horticulture and GGRC sanctioned installation of '
Micro Irrigation System (MIS) for an area of 45512 hectares.
Among the districts the installation varied from as low as 156
hectares in Dahod to as high as 6335 hectares in Rajkot (table 4.3).
In fact, Rajkot district alone contributes to about 14 percent of the
total MIS. This is followed by Bhavanagar with a hectares of 4194,
Amreli, Jamnagar, Junagadh, Kutch are the other districts with
more than 2000 ha. The coverage under MIS is very low in the
districts of Ahmedabad, Anand, Dahod, Narmada, and Porbandar
with hectares of less than 2000 ha. (Table 4.3).

4.3.1 District Wise Drip Area:

As can be seen in the table 4.3, the drip area in different districts
varied from as low as 14 ha in Porbandar to as high as 5932 ha in
Rajkot, Bhavanagar, Sabarkantha, Jamnagar and Amreli with the
respective figures of 3734, 3701, 3380 and 3182 hectares. Apart
from Dahod, Porbandar and Narmada are other districts with
negligible area under drip.

102
 Table 4.3
District w ise Distribution of T y p e of Micro
Irrigation S ystem (M IS ) in the S ta te of G u jarat

Drip Sprinkler Total %

Sr. % %
District Area in Area in Area in Drip +
No. Drip Sprinkler
Ha. Ha. Ha. Sprinkler
1 Ahmedabad 1272 49 1321 2.90 3.16 0.92
2 Amreli 3182 609 3791 8.33 7.92 11.38
3 Anand 263 22 265 0.58 0.65 0.42
4 Banaskantha 1068 623 1691 3.73 3.66 2.34
5 Bharuch 1717 10 1727 3.79 2.65 11.64
6 Bhavanaqar 3734 460 4194 9.22 4.27 0.19
7 Dahod 117 39 156 0.34 9.29 8.60
8 Danqes 0 0 0 0 0 0
9 Gandhinagar 826 26 852 1.87 0.29 0.73
10 Jamnagar 3380 254 3634 7.98 2.05 0.49
11 Junaqadh 2714 1191 3905 8.58 8.41 4.75
12 Kheda 1026 17 1043 2.29 6.75 22.26
13 Kutch 2801 120 2921 6.41 2.56 0.32
14 Mehsana 964 142 1106 2.43 6.98 2.25
15 Narmada 176 10 186 0.41 2.40 2.65
16 Navasari 381 93 474 1.04 0.44 0.18
17 Panchmahal 178 65 243 0.53 0.95 1.73
18 Patan 252 166 418 0.93 0.44 1.21
19 Porbandar 14 243 257 0.56 0.63 3.10
20 Rajkot 5932 403 6335 13.92 0.04 4.54
21 Sabarkantha 3701 401 4102 9.01 14.77 7.52
22 Surat 1823 26 1849 4.06 9.22 7.49
23 Surendranaqar 1599 246 1845 4.05 3.98 4.59
24 Vadodara 1472 125 1597 3.52 4.54 0.48
25 Valsad 1588 12 1600 3.52 3.95 0.22
Total 40160 5352 45512 100.00 100.00 100.00
(source: Directorate o f Agriculture and Horticulture, Krushi Bhavan, Gandhinagar and
GGRC, Vadodara, Gujarat).

4.3.2 District Wise Sprinkler Area:

As can be seen from the table 4.3, out of the 5352 ha under
sprinkler, as high as 1191 ha are in Junagadh, which works out to
almost 23 per cent of the total. Banaskantha follows this with
hectares of 623, while at Ahmedabad, Anand, Bharuch, Dahod,
Gandhinagar, Kheda, Narmada, Surat and Valsad districts the
sprinkler area is less than 50 hectares (table 4.3).

103
4.3.3 Relative Dominance of the System:
Out of the total installation 40160 hectares were under drip and
5352 hectares under sprinkler working out to a corresponding
percentage of 88 and 12 respectively (table 4.4).
Table 4.4
R elative d o m in an c e o f th e system

Sr. No. Districts % of Drip % of Sprinkler

1 Ahmedabad 96 04
2 Amreli 84 16
3 Anand 92 08
4 Banaskantha 63 37
5 Bharuch 100 -

6 Bhavanagar 89 11
7 Dahod 75 25
8 Danges 00 00
9 Gandhinagar 96 04
10 Jamnagar 93 07
11 Junagadh 69 31
12 Kheda 100 -

13 Kutch 96 04
14 Mehsana 87 13
15 Narmada 100 -

16 Navasari 80 20
17 Panchmahal 73 27
18 Patan 60 40
19 Porbandar - 100
20 Rajkot 93 07
21 Sabarkantha 90 10
22 Surat 100 -

23 Surendranagar 86 14
24 Vadodara 92 08
25 Valsad 100 -

(source: Directorate of Agriculture and Horticulture, Krushi Bhavan, Gandhinagar,

Gujarat).

104
In the districts of Bharuch, Gandhinagar, Kheda, Narmada,
Porbandar and Valsad all the area under MIS are with drip and
sprinkler installation during the period under report are negligible.
These are followed by the districts of Ahmedabad, Anand,
Vadodara, Bharuch, Gandhinagar, Jamnagar, Kheda, Kutch,
Rajkot, Sabarkantha, Narmada, Surat and Valsad, where in 90 to
100 % of the installation belong to drip. On the other hand in
Porbandar 99 % of the installation some of the districts like Patan
40 % and Banaskantha 37 % of the installations are of sprinkler
only. Similarly in Junagadh also 31 per cent of the installations are
of sprinkler. This trend is expected in the groundnut belt of the
state. Even in middle Gujarat and north Gujarat districts bearing
Banaskantha there was a clear cut dominance of drip over
sprinkler.

105
 4.4 Crop Wise Contribution of MIS

Table 4.5
Crop wise contribution
CROPS DRIP SPRINKLER TOTAL % OF % OF
DRIP SPRINKLER
Am ala 181 4 185 0.46 0.08
Bajra - 150 150 - 2.80
Banana 9519 8 9518 23.71 0.15
Castor 1721 170 1891 4.28 3.17
Cotton 15832 50 . 15882 39.43 0.93
Cumin - 30 30 - 0.56
Gram - 72 72 - 1.34
Groundnut 2021 4010 6020 5.03 74.92
Guvar - 2 2 - 0.04
Isabgul - 16 16 - 0.30
Jowar - 4 4 - 0.08
Lemon 959 - 959 2.38 -

Lucem - 4 4 - 0.08
Mango 1616 - 1616 4.03 -

Mustard - 510 510 - 9.53

Papaya 331 4 335 0.83 0.08
Pomegranate 117 - 117 0.29 -

Potato 370 2 372 0.93 0.04

Rice - 2 2 - 0.04
Sapota 1012 - 1012 2.51 -

Sugarcane 1481 20 1501 368 0.37

Vegetables 4098 180 4278 10.20 3.36
Wheat - 110 110 - 2.05
Other 297 297 0.73
Horticulture
crops
Other crops 605 4 609 1.50 0.08
Total 140160 5352 45512 100.00 100.00
(source: Directorate of Agriculture and Horticulture, Krushi Bhavan, Gandhinagar,
Gujarat).

Out of the total 40160 hectares (Table 4.5) under drip, Cotton
alone accounts for 15832 ha, working out to a percentage of about
40 %. This is followed by Banana and Vegetable groups with areas

106
 of 9519 and 4098 hectares respectively. Groundnut is the only
other crop with coverage of more than 2000 hectares. These four
crops together account for about 78 percent of the area under drip
during the period under report.

Under the sprinkler systems, groundnut has coverage of 4010

hectares and this is the single major crop contributing to 75 percent
of the area under sprinkler. The distribution of crops under
sprinkler is much skewed and many of the sprinkler responsive
crops like wheat are almost neglected. Efforts should be made to
bring more areas of these crops under sprinkler.

4.4.1 District Wise - Crop Wise Distribution of

MIS:
(a) Drip systems:
The drip system covering an area of about 40160 hectares are
distributed in all the districts covering about 15 crops of these 11
are horticultural crops and 4 agricultural crops (table 4.6). In the
districts of Amreli, Banaskantha, Bhavanagar, Vadodara, Kutch,
Kheda, Mehsana, Sabarkantha, Surendranagar major crops are
under drip. In Vadodara Cotton and Banana together contribute to
67 % of the area under drip. At Anand and Narmada districts
Banana is the main crop under drip. While Sugarcane and Banana
are the dominant crops under drip in Bharuch. They are Mango and
Sugarcane and Sapota in Navasari district and Mango, Banana,
Sapota (Chikku) in Valsad district. In Junagadh Mango contributes
to more than 30 % of the area under drip during the reporting
period.

107
 100.00 |
|
o o CO CO co in a a

Total

1570

1248

1667
00 CO co CO CO CM co £

9S9
5 CD

332

1 742
£ N-
a 1 C CO CD a
1 s
03
o ffi CO £ CO 3
CO
2
1

I
Others

605
CO to co o CO o CM o o CM r- o> in S

0E

72

46
Si CM a Si CM y- CM m SI CM
Orchard
Other

h-

0.73
CD in o O) CM o
42

37
o O SI O o o o o o Tf 3 CM CO a o 03
CM
Drip System: District wise, Crop wise Distribution of Various Crops of

Vegetable

10.28
O o CO
o co o O O

145
OOE

OOE

310
o 03
OS

os

o O CM 03

60

25
CM 1 a CM o s
CM 5 1 § §

0
Agriculture and Horticulture in the State of Gujarat

c
CO
536

638
O CM O O O o o o O O o 03 § o o o o O o s 8 f CO
1 CO
o>
3
C
O

1012
2.52
257

o O in O O O
9o O o o o o o o to
30

60

50
30

&
a
CO CM CM
o § 9 CM
C
O

|
Potato

r^-

0.93
370
o o o CO o o O o o CD o o o o o o o o CO o o GO O
CO CM

(source: Director of Agriculture and Horticulture, Gandhinagar, GOG)

|
Pomegranate

r>- CD
o o o O
30

o o CO o o O CO o o o o o o o o o O CM
CD
O

i~
Papaya

CO CD
O
67

o CM CO CO CM CO o o O 3 O o o o - co in 03 O CO
s o'
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Mango

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L 1616

o o 03 CO o CO
398

| 300

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o 03 co
400

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50

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Groundn

2021

o o
5.00

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o o o
■ ■ ■ ■ ■ in • o • •
lit

■ ■ iCM
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8
|l
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|
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Cotton

15832
| 39.43
1032
2198

6400

so
280

805

400

150

o CO CD CO in CM
06

■'t o r- o CO 3 o in 8i O
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—

L J 5 0 I

o o
4.28
320

320

o o o o
90
20

o o o o o CM
«
co 03 • • CM • ' ■ ■ N - CM £ 8 M
O
—

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|

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Banana

1152

23 70
1033

9519
2592

CM CM CM CO
660

CO CD O s
40

o o o CD O o o o O O
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■ CM
!

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|
|
— --------------------------------------------------------

i
Amala

I
0.46

< 0 ]0
181
12

14

22
27

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4

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0

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0

i
Surendranagar 1
i

Percentage (%)

1
1
Gandhinagar
Districts

15
Ahmedabad

I i5
Total
Bhavnagar

Porbandar
Jamnagar

co!
Junagadh

Vadodara
Mehsana

E '§
{ « T3 1 § -C -I-*
Valsad
Kheda
Anand

3! 2 ol
Kutch

5
Patan

o
Surat

C c0 ICOS CO c f<0*
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(b) Sprinkler System:
Sprinkler systems have been installed only in very few crops. Even
among them the distribution is of skewed nature (Table 4.7).

109
 Sprinkler System: District wise and Crop wise Distribution in the State of Gujarat

^
Districts Ground

O) z
Bajra Castor Cotton

6
Cumin Gram Isabgul Mustard Sugarcane Vegetable Wheat Others Total
nut

CVJ
•

1
1
Ahmedabad

T—
1

■
■
CO
CO

Tj-

i
I

l
i
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lAmreli

c v j!
1

i
210 210

i
i

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i

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Anand

■
■
■
i
CM

o
o

w
!

o
[Banaskantha |

■
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130 138 74 893

in
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•

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[Bharuch

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■
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■
1

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IBhavnagar

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312
CVJ !° i1C

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•

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Dahod
Oi| i n

■
10 j i n

i
t

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[Gandhinagar

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■
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10

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•
iJamnagar

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106 I
j

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w

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lJunagadh

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in

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2354
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Kheda

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Mehsana !

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•
Patan 1 in

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t
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Porbandar

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204

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in
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CM!
;
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35
-

237
■ CM • i ■ ■ ■'T 1 ■ 1 ■ ■ 1 ■M

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22 iSurendranagar

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j CM
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■
■
■
CM CO
CO

■
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0

Total |
is

CO

150

i
170 50
CM

30 72 4010
jC

510
!m

180
M

O
CO
CM*
(% )

CO
o>
Percentage
d

3.18 0.56 1.35 74.93

CO

0.30 9.53 0.37 3.36 2.06 100.00

CD

(source: Director of Agriculture and Horticulture, Gandhinagar, GOG)

Table 4.7 110

 Out of the 5352 hectares of installation 4010 ha working out to a
percentage of 75 is in groundnut alone. The installation in wheat,
which is another most responsive crop for sprinkler, contributed
only 2 % of the total installations. Though the sprinkler installation
in groundnut is spread in 16 different districts. Yet only two
districts namely Junagadh (59 %) and Porbandar (12 %)
contributed to 71 percent of the installations.

4.4.2 Crop Wise Concentration:

Drip:
Among the different crops banana (24 %), cotton (39 %), vegetable
groups (10 %), mango (4 %), castor (4 %) and sugarcane (4 %)
together contributes to more than 85 percent of the area under drip.
The other crops individually contribute to 1 to 3 percent each.

Banana
Drip area in Banana is concentrated only in the southern districts
and Vadodara and Anand districts of middle Gujarat. This trend is
as per expansion pattern of this crop in different districts. The
maximum area is in Bharuch (2592 ha) followed by Vadodara
(2216 ha), Anand (1091 ha), Narmada (1152 ha) and Surat (1033
ha) districts.

Castor
This is a very important drip responsive crop in north Gujarat. But
only 1721 ha out of the 40160 ha are under drip in this crop.
Working out to a very low percentage of Kutch (320 ha), Patan
(320 ha) and Sabarkantha (350 ha) contributed 57 percent of the
total area under drip with this crop.

ill
 Cotton
This crop contributes to 40 percent of the area brought under drip
through department schemes and GGRC. Though in 20 out of 24
districts, drip has been installed in cotton. Yet, the lack of the area
(6400 ha) is in Sabarkantha, which district alone contributes to 40
% of the installation in this crop. The other districts contributing to
a considerable extent are Kheda (1032 ha), Kutch (2198 ha),
Banaskantha (1041 ha), Gandhinagar (805 ha) and Surendranagar
(952 ha).

Orchard crops
The orchard fruits crops comprising mainly of lemon, mango,
Amala, Sapota, papaya and pomegranate contribute to 11 % of the
total installations. While mango with a hectarage of 1194 ha is
mainly concentrated in the districts of Junagadh, Kutch, Valsad,
Navasari and Vadodara. Drip in lemon is observed only in
Mehsana with a hectarage of 400 ha out of 959 ha. Banaskantha
(60 ha) and Anand (30 ha) contribute to 76 percent of the drip
installation in pomegranate. Bharuch, Kutch, Surendranagar and
Surat accounts for 63 % of the drip installation in Papaya. Drip
installation Sapota (Chikku) (507 ha) is majority in the districts of
Navasari and Valsad. While Banaskantha, Mehsana and
Sabarkantha together contribute to 54 % of drip in Amala.

Vegetable
Drip installation in different vegetable crops totally amount to
4098 ha. more than 50 % of these are in the districts of Vadodara,
Gandhinagar, Kheda, Sabarkantha, Valsad and Surat.

112
 Sugarcane
This crop accounts for 3 % of total drip installations. Around 80 %
of the installations have done only in two districts viz.: Surat (638
ha), Bharuch (536 ha) and Navasari is the third district with a
hectarage of 105 ha.

Sprinkler
Aanong the different crops groundnut is the single most dominant
crop accounting for 75 % of the area. Mustard is the second one
with a percentage of 10. These two oilseed crops along with castor
accounts for 89 % of the area under sprinkler there is very good
scope for increasing the coverage in wheat.

4.5 Subsidy and Investment:

The government subsidy has been a major encouraging factor for
the adoption of drip irrigation by farmers. It appears that almost the
whole investment in this sector has been the government
investment in the form of subsidy and very little comes from the
farmers. The Government of Gujarat distributed subsidy to the tune
of nearly Rs.: 43 Crores over a period seven year from 1989-90
(See Table 5.8) as can be seen from the table, there has been a
consistent and tremendous increase in the subsidy distribution
every year with the exception of one year (1993-94) during the last
seven years. The latest (1996-97) witnessed a very high increase in
subsidy amounting to almost double of the previous year.

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 Table 4.8
Subsidy Distributed in Gujarat from 1990-91 to
1996-97
(Rupees in Lakhs)

Year Agriculture Horticulture Total

1990-91 29 -
29
1991-92 44 200 244
1992-93 295 240 535
1993-94 187 220 407
1994-95 506 -
506
1995-96 955 36 991
1996-97 1378 183 1561
Total 3394 879 4273
(Source: Directorate o f Agriculture and Horticulture, GOG).

The pattern of subsidy available to farmers for installing drip

irrigation in Gujarat is shown in Table 4.8. The schemes sponsored
by Agriculture Department gives a subsidy of 75 per cent of the
total investment to small and marginal farmers belonging to
Scheduled Casts and Scheduled Tribes. The small and marginal
farmers belonging to other communities are given a subsidy of 66
percent and all other farmers 40 percent. A maximum ceiling on
subsidy disbursed was also fixed as shown in the table. Until the
year 1994-95 the subsidy was limited to a maximum of one hectare
of land and from the year 1995-96 this has been waived and the
subsidy was extended to a maximum of three hectares in twelve
districts in the semi-arid regions of North Gujarat, Kutch and
Saurashtra.

The present subsidy rates for schemes under the Department of

Horticulture are 90 per cent of the investment with a ceiling of Rs.
25,000.00 for one hectare for ST, SC, Women, Small and Marginal

114
farmers and 70 per cent for all other categories of farmers with the
same rate. There is no limit prescribed for area. Unlike in the case
of Agriculture scheme. The subsidy rate for the period prior to
1996 was 50 per cent of the total investment and as can be seen in
the Table 4.9, there were restrictions on area also. The subsidy was
limited to a maximum of 4 ha during the period 1991-93 and 1 ha
during the period 1993-96; the present subsidy rates under
Horticulture are more liberal than the earlier.

115
 Table 4.9
Pattern of Subsidy available in Drip Irrigation in
Gujarat (Old Scheme)

% of Subsidy to Maximum Ceiling

Total Investment (in Rs.)
A. Agriculture
1. SC/ST, Small and Marginal 75% 30,000.00
Farmers
(For one ha.)
2. Other Small and Marginal 66% 26,500.00
Farmers
(For one ha.)
3. Other Farmers - 40% 16,000.00
For one ha. (Including
Educational and
Social Institutions)
B. Horticulture
1. Present rates (i.e. from 13-5-96 90% 25,000.00
onwards).
(i) SC, ST, Women farmers to
small and marginal farmers for
one ha. (No limit of area).
(ii) All other farmers for one 70% 25,000.00
ha. (No limit of area).
2. During 1-11-93 to 12-5-96 50% 15,000.00
All farmers (given only for one
Ha.).
3. During 1991-92 to 31-10-93
All farmers For 1 ha. 50% 17,000.00
For 2 ha. 50% 34,000.00
For 3 ha. 50% 51,000.00
For 4 ha. 50% 60,000.00
(Source: Director o f Agriculture and Director o f Horticulture, Gandhinagar, Gujarat).

116
 4.6 Gujarat Green Revolution Company (GGRC):
GSFC’s Initiative & Establishment Of GGRC: GSFC took
initiative for popularizing micro-irrigation system a solution to the
water problem in the State and a pilot project was under taken
under 82 acres at five villages of Padra & Palanpur Talukas of
Baroda and Banaskantha Districts respectively with an innovative
business module to show that the higher productivity could be
achieved through lesser use of water by micro irrigation methods,
i.e., drip.

A Task Force was constituted in September 2004 by State Govt, to

execute the implementation of innovative business module and
results of micro irrigation system satisfactorily. The encouraging
results of Pilot Project in summer crops like Moong and vegetables
taken for the first time in the area under drip irrigation with
innovative business module and witnessed by many farmers from
various parts of Gujarat provided confidence to the farmers and
built up a platform to launch the MIS in Gujarat successfully.

A recommendation of task force based on the results of Pilot

project of GSFC was accepted by the Govt, of Gujarat.
Government of Gujarat decided to create separate identity, which
can transparently implement one scheme in the state so that the
procedure for granting assistance, norms for assistance, terms and
conditions etc. are simple and uniform throughout the state and
farmers are benefited.

In view of this, Govt, of Gujarat announced formation of a new

company “Gujarat Green Revolution Company Limited” (GGRC)
which is jointly promoted by GSFC, GNFC and GAIC and this
organization is acting as a nodal agency on behalf of GoG for
implementation of universal solution of water management.

117
 Government order also covered innovative business module for
implementation of MIS in the State recommended by task force
committee and which was successfully implemented in the pilot
project by GSFC and now currently implemented by GGRC.
(source: www.GGRC.com).

The government owned Gujarat Green Revolution Co. Ltd.

(GGRCL) aims to bring 750,000 acres under hi-tech agriculture at
a total investment of Rs. 15 billion - Rs. 6 billion subsidy from the
state, Rs. 6 billion through the debt route and Rs. 3 billion
contributed by Gujarat State Fertilisers Co. (GSFC) and Gujarat
Narmada Valley Fertilisers Co. (GNFC). GGRCL will help
farmers with drip-irrigation and sprinkler facilities and provide
seeds developed by GSFC and GNFC. It will also provide
fertilisers, bio-fertilisers and herbal insecticides, as well as
marketing support. (Source: http//www.PTI/GGRC-01/MIS/dp-sp/03-02-05).

4.6.1 Objective behind the Formation of GGRC

• To carry out the implementation of Micro Irrigation System
in the State.
• For field services and then agro inputs such as Bio-fungicide
products, pesticides,
• Bio-fertilizers, Seeds, etc.
• For tissue culture activities & other Biotechnology products.
• For open farm activities so as to increase farm productivity.
• For cutting cost, increase income.
• For other allied activities such as credit, marketing, value
addition.
• For Promotion, development and emphasis on improved agro
practices.
• For continuing Agro-processing activities on large scale at
State level.
• Increasing the productivity of the farmers.

118
 “GGRC is aimed to provide professional services on Micro
Irrigation System coupled with required equipments & essential
agro-inputs to the farmers of Gujarat, either outsourced or self
produced to bring 2nd Green Revolution in consonance with the
Agricultural policy of Gujarat Vision 2010 so as to save water &
energy, besides multiple benefits to improve Agricultural
productivity & farmers prosperity at large.”

Micro Irrigation System is a mechanism to provide water and

chemical fertilizer in required quantity through network of plastic
pipes and drippers. In MIS, water is directly applied to the root
zone of plants, at frequent intervals at precise quantities and
through a low-pressure pipe network. MIS is necessary to improve
the productivity of irrigated land from the present low levels, to
improve efficiencies of Water, Energy, Nutrient and Human Effort
in Agriculture, to conserve scarce resources such as Water and
Electricity, to extend the benefits of irrigated agriculture to more
people with the available water and to facilitate better crop
management through Fertigation and Chemigation.

4.6.2 Benefits for the Farmers: New MIS Scheme

of GGRC
a) Govt, to give 50% subsidy on total cost of up to Rs. 1,00,000/-
per hectare, limited to Rs. 50,000/- per hectare.
b) Farmer to contribute 5% of cost upfront.
c) 45% to be given as loan through banks; if loan is not needed,
the farmer to contribute this amount also.
d) Farmer has choice to select MIS Supplier.
e) Farmer has choice to take loan from the Bank of his choice or
provide finance himself.
f) Loan by the bank to be secured with insurance.
g) Design of MIS should be as per the requirement of farmer and
cropping pattern to be adopted.
h) All inputs for high-tech agriculture should be made available to

119
 farmer.
i) MIS system to be maintained by suppliers for 5 years.
j) Subsidy to be disbursed by GGRC direct to Bank or MIS
suppliers.
k) Agronomical services & crop advice to be provided to the
farmers.
l) Verification of MIS installation to be done by independent third
party agency.

120
New MIS Scheme of GGRC
4.7 Field Observation on the Sample Farmers:
The survey was done in Banaskantha, Mehsana and Patan districts.
These districts fall in the North Gujarat Agro-climatic zones. When
the personal visits were made for the survey, in most of the sites
the installations of drip and sprinklers were well functioning.
Hence, details regarding the usage of the system, irrigation and
fertilizers scheduling, maintenance etc could not be assessed
quantitatively, yet some quantitative data about the status of the
beneficiaries and semi quantitative and qualitative assessment on
the other aspects could be drawn from the interaction with the
concerned sample farmers and the same are included in the
respective chapters in this thesis.

4.7.1 Design Aspects:

Appropriate designing of the system is the prime requisite for the
techno-economic viability of the system. The survey of the
selected installations clearly brings out the fact that there is a very
vast scope for improvement in this aspect. It was revealed during
the field survey that Cotton, Castor, Potato, Vegetables and
Orchard together contribute to more than 70 % of the installations.
Hence, the discussions are made pertaining to these crops.

122
Particulars Status Observations/Suggestions
Design Aspects Only Sprinkler and Drip are Sprinkler is wrongly
and installed as the part of MIS. advocated in crops like
Selection of the System. In most of the cases only in Cotton and Castor. While
line drip system is adopted. drip is the only suitable
system for Cotton, Castor
and can give better response
under drip.
Even in Isabgul, Cumin,
Methi Mini-sprinkler is
more economically viable
than drip. Even in orchard
crops like Mango, Sapota
(Chikku) and Kagadi Lime,
inline system with narrow
dripper spacing is adopted,
indicating that system
selection is done in a casual
way; and inline system
should not be preferred
blindly.

4.8 Water Saving - Drip Irrigation System:

There are indications that farmers apply more water through drip.
The water saving figures was worked out based on the calculated
amount of water used by the farmers through drip with the present
schedule they follow. The G.A.U. recommended schedule for
water saving is given below.

Water U se through Drip System at Sampled Farmer’s

Fields. (TCM/Ha)

Through Drip Through G.A.U. Recommendations

Crop
Range Mean Surface Drip Surface
Cotton 3.00 to 8.40 5.40 7.50 3.00 4.50
Castor 3.00 to 7.00 4.30 7.50 3.00 4.00
Sapota
2.00 to 10.00 6.80 10.70 3.60 6.00
(Chikku)

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Cotton
In the Cotton growing water scare-city districts in North Gujarat,
the farmers tend to over irrigate the crop even through drip. As
against the irrigation water requirement of 4.5 Tcm/ha through
surface method, the average water being applied through drip by
the farmers is 5.4 Tcm/ha. In fact that the amount of water applied
by the farmers through drip is almost double as compared to the
recommended practices.

Castor
Drip in this crop is concentrated in majority in North Gujarat
districts. The water applied by different farmers varied from as low
as 3 Tcm to as high as 7 Tcm, with a mean of 4.3 Tcm. The
optimum water requirement through drip for this crop in the above
said districts is 3.0 Tcm.

4.8.1 Water Saving Percentage:

Based on the above water use figures, the mean percent water
saved through drip over the present farmer’s practice of irrigating
by conventional method was worked out for different crops.
Simultaneously, the potential percent water savings based on the
university’s recommendation of water use through drip for
different crops were also worked out.

Percent water savings over Farmers Surface Practice

Present
Crop Potential Differences in %
(At the Time o f Survey)
Cotton 24 64 40
Castor 41 57 16
Sapota (Chikku) 41 62 21

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From the above table as can be seen in all the three crops there is a
good scope for improvement. This is especially so in the case of
Cotton where the gap is very large.

Suggestions
1. After sales service: It needs improvement as many farmers
not getting enough and proper after sales service.

2. Technical support by the Companies: Being provided by the

companies there too enormous scope exists for improvement
in the quality and technically of the advices being given to
the farmers by the companies. The G.A.U. Navasari can give
training to the trainers and the ultimate technical training to
the field staff of the companies and beneficiaries/village
youths/and volunteers for the maintenance and operation of
the system with special reference to system selection,
designing, irrigation and fertigation schedules and other
aspects can be provided by through selected NGO’s, KVKS,
F.T.C. and other private agencies.

125
4.9 Scope of Micro-Irrigation in Gujarat:
The erratic and insufficient rainfall depleting ground water
resources especially in North Gujarat and Kutch, water logging and
secondary salination development in South and Middle Gujarat
coupled with poor irrigation efficiency envisages the need of a
better water use efficient method of irrigation in the State. Micro
Irrigation is one of the answers to mitigate the above said problems
and the recommended crops and area to be covered is given in the
following table 4.10.

126
Large scale Crop wise Area possibilities for adoption of MIS in
Gujarat State are as follows.

Table No. 4.10

Name of the Crops Area in Lakh hectare
(To be covered)
Wheat 4.31
Groundnut 0.37
Castor 3.05
Sesamum 3.80
Sugarcane 1.76
Cotton 6.86
Tobacco 0.85
Banana 3.48
Mango 0.06
Sapota 0.20
Lemon 0.22
Other crops 0.50
Potato 0.36
Onion 0.25
Tomato 0.16
Lady Finger (Bhindi) 0.26
Other Vegetables 1.35
Spices and Condiments 2.85
Total 30.72
(source: Information compiled from G. A. U. and Department of Agriculture and
Department of Horticulture, Gandhinagar, Gujarat)

4.10 MIS Projects, Problems, Prospects and

Suggestions:
As it has been seen earlier, the MIS Irrigation has a number of
advantages like water saving, economy in fertilizer and pesticides,

127
productivity gain etc. Also it is suited to the regions facing water
shortages. In a state like Gujarat where in a major part of the state
falls in arid and semi-arid regions with acute water shortages, MIS
irrigation will be of immense use and bound to expand. In spite of
that MIS is not expanding on any radical scale nor is the farmer in
the state enthusiastic to adopt it. Because today, farmers adopting
MIS are getting subsidy and it is unlikely that the scheme would be
adapted to any significant extent if the present subsidy is
withdrawn. As there are a number of problems associated with
implementation of MIS irrigation in the state, farmers may be
reluctant to adopt MIS irrigation. They are discussed below.

1) Subsistence farming:

The subsistence farming, a dominant feature of our agriculture, is

incompatible with large scale investment on assets. The
subsistence nature of farming acts as an inhibiting factor on large
scale investment in a number of ways. The small scale of operation
and the focus on cereals, that too inferior ones, and non­
commercial objectives do-not leave much surplus in the hand of a
large segment of the farmers. Mixed cropping and inter-cropping
practiced widely by small farmers, are also possible due to
subsistence farming. It is not possible to adopt MIS irrigation in
such mixed farming where a number of crops are grown together
which have differential requirements of water.

2) Technical Constraints:

The technical requirements for a successful MIS irrigation system

are irrigable soil, precisely estimated water supply of suitable
quality, necessary MIS equipment and components of good
quality, scientific design of the system and prudent management.
There is no specific type of soil recommended for MIS. However,
water retention and movement properties of soil have to be studied
for selection of emitter type. Their discharge rate and the number

128
of emitters. The long term planning for the MIS demand, the study
of the physicochemical properties of soils such as depth, textural
class, bulk density, infiltration rate, hydraulic conductivity, soil
PH, EC, SAR and RSC etc. Such basic information is very useful
for design purpose and restricting future failures. That will also
enhance the precision and avoid wastage in MIS materials.
However, presently such studies are not conducted before the
adoption and design of the MIS system.

As per the field observation the designs are not always done
scientifically. Major constraints in design relate to discharge
diameter of conveying pipes and position of emitters as total head
required for maintaining uniformity co-efficient at more than 90
percent variation in head loss and design discharge should not be
more than 20 % and 10 % respectively at the plot end. Another
technical lacuna reported is in respect of non-provision of sand
filters, air valves and pressure gauges as per the local situations.
Technical competence of designers is important in ensuring a
scientific design. This, however, is not often available.

3) Lack of Scientific Practices:

Inadequate scientific knowledge of farmer about the use of drip

practices and maintenance result in unscientific operational
practices. Also, in general the farmers are not very much
concerned about scientific agronomical and cultivational practices.
This also poses problem for prudent usage of drip irrigation. The
ignorance of scientific practices results in a failure to reap the
optimum benefits from drip irrigation.

4) Poor extension:

Illiteracy and the inadequate scientific knowledge on farming

demand appropriate extension services to motivate the farmers for
effective and scientific use of MIS systems. This appears to be

129
lacking. The extension services of the agricultural department are
not sufficient and effective. Often extension personnel are found to
be lacking enough motivation and commitment. It is desirable to
note that their inspiration to adopt MIS irrigation came not from
any extension personnel. Also 20 percent of the farmers reported
that they received training and information on drip after
installation of the drip sets. Nearly 50 per cent of the officials who
are associated or appointed to implement or supervise drip
irrigation at the field level also opined that there is a lack of
supervision, monitoring, guidance and training to the farmers.

Problems Perceived by Farmers

During field investigation farmers were also interviewed to know

their perception of the problems of MIS irrigation in Gujarat. The
problems perceived by farmers are given in the table 8.9 (Chapter
- 8). As can be seen in the table, the most important problems are
related to the cost aspect. Almost the entire sample farmers have
suggested that the initial cost is very high.

Similarly, 37.50 % of farmers are of the opinion that the cost of

spare parts are so costly that they find it difficult to replace them
when it is required to or else when the need arises. Nearly 1.38 per
cent farmers have complained of difficulties in getting loan from
Banks.

Another set of problems is related to scientific knowledge and

awareness. More than about 50 per cent of farmers have pointed
out that, in general, soil and water are not analysed before the
installation of drip sets. (They do not know anything about soil and
water analysis and their importance of carrying out the correct
procedures prior to adoption of MIS). About half number of the
farmers said that they do not know anything about pressure gauges
or chemical treatment to prevent clogging. Ninety per cent of the

130
farmers reported that they are not given any training or instructions
by anybody including the extension staff.

Some of the other problems pointed out by the farmers are also
significant to note. A large majority (75 %) of the farmers
indicated that drip irrigation is inconvenient in inter-cropping and
mixed cropping. As pointed out earlier, inter-cropping and mixed
cropping are widely practiced in North Gujarat. Particularly by
marginal and small farmers, as a survival strategy to face the
problems of crop failures. Some of the farmers have pointed out
that tillage and weeding operations are inconvenient in drip
irrigated farms, owing to the pipe-network on the surface. Damage
to pipes by rodents and animals and damaged caused by farm
implements have also been pointed out as some of the problems by
the farmers.

4.11 Adoption of Salt Resistance Varieties of

Crops in Gujarat State:

Vast/large tracts of the study areas are highly saline

where raising crops is not possible. However, by
irrigation - MIS etc. when water enters soil, all soluble
salts being water soluble leach down only to rise - and
come to surface again when dryness prevails. At that time
salts in water and through capillary rise ooze out on soil
due to evaporation. However, agriculturalists have
successfully grown and found out some crops which are
salt resistant. These are listed below in table 4.11.

131
 Table 4.11 Relative Tolerance of Crops to Salinity
Level of Salinity in descending order ( 1 - 3 )

Higher - Tolerant Medium - Tolerant Sensitive

0) (2) 0)

Batrley, Sugarbeet, Cotton, Rice, Sugarcane, Ground­ Linseed, Sesame, Cowpea

Wheat, Safflower, nut, Maize, Sunflower, (Choli), Gram, Pea, Broad
Sorghum, Bajra, Rapeseed, Guar, Tobacco, Castor, bean, Mung, Pigeonpea
Mustard Soyabean, Oat (Tuver), Black gram.

Fruits

Date Palm Fig, Pomegranate, Grapes, Citrus (Lemon etc.)

Guava, Ber

Vegetables

Sugar beet, Amaranthus, Tomato, Brinjal, Cucumber, Raddish, Beans

Spinach, Turnip Cauliflower, Cabbage,
Knolkhol, Potato, Sweet
potato, Peas, Carrot, Onion,
Bhindi, Curcubito

Alkaline Soils:
Table 4.12: Relative Tolerance of crops to alkaline soils
Tolerant Semi -Tolerant Sensitive

Grasses, Paddy, Wheat, Barley, Oats, Groundnut, Pea,

Sugar beet Baseum, Sugarcane, Maize, Cotton - only
Millets, Onion at germination - if
once established can
grow.

Thus crops mentioned in Column no.: 1 and 2 can be

successfully raised in study areas which are saline. In
addition there are palatable grasses/fodder plants which

132
are also salt tolerant (Jadav & Gupta 1984). [Jadav J.S.P. and Gupta I.C.
(1984) Usar Bhoomi Ki Sudhar (in Hindi), ICAR, New Delhi.)

In the case of alkaline areas, gypsum is applied as soil

dressing to make soil neutral or bring down its alkalinity.
Bio-fertilizer application can also be resorted to reclaim
such soil. E.g. Application of a soil alga (blue green)
Nostoc commune & other algae naturally occurring in
alkaline soils of Northern India. These algae add to
organic matter to the soils which ranges from 37-60% and
Nitrogen 30-38%. Thus soils in study area can be
successfully reclaimed and brought under cultivation.
Azolla - an aquatic weed is also a Nitrogen fixing plant
and extensively used as bio-fertilizer to reclaim soil.
Azolla can be raised or grown in water tanks, can be dried
after maturity and powdered. This powder or its pellets
can be applied to soil to increase fertility of degraded
infertile soil. Once soil becomes enriched in organic
components, SMC is taken care of and crops thus have a
dual benefit of application - Azolla (i) increasing fertility
and (ii) SMC. (source: Gupta & Gupta (1986) as cited by Sharma & Gupta (1986)
[Shanna, S.K. (1986) Saline Environment & Plant Growth. Agro Botanical Publishers,
Bikaner (India) pp. 1-172.)

As stated in earlier, large or vast tracts of the study areas

are highly degraded and saline due to which no crops can
be raised. Coupled with this inbuilt salinity of soil, the
region is recurring drought prone; water scarcity is both
acute and chronic. Although the current year, is
exceptional one, as there has unprecedented high rains,
even then this is only a temporary relief as again what

133
would be rain fall extent is unpredictable. Again when
waters recede, as flood subsides, normal soil saline
conditions would prevail.

Under such harsh and edaphic (soil) climatic conditions,

modem technology of water culture or hydroponics is
recommended. Hydroponics is a technology for
cultivating or growing plants in nutrient solutions with or
without the use of substratum sand, land, soil etc. which
is required for mechanical support.

Actually, all hydroponics systems are green houses or

more precisely stated, they are enclosed in green houses
or such type structures so that there is temperature control
- desirable temperature maintained to reduce evaporation
loss of water, and minimizing or better control of pests
and pathogens, disease incidences. Even such structures
afford protection to crops against wind and rain, i.e.
weather vagaries.

This system was initiated in the 17th century in England,

when plants or crops were raised in mineral nutrient
solutions. Since then the technology has been refined and
improved. A comparison of open field yield with
hydroponics yield is tabulated as under. All the crops
grown in hydroponics system show much higher yield as
evident from the table 4.13.

134
 Table 4.13
Crops Grown Under Hydroponics System
Crop Yield per Ha Vegetable Vegetable yield kg.acre
Agricultural Hydroponics Open Held Hydroponics
yield (lb) yield (lb)

Rice 1000 12000 Cucumber 3171 12684

Wheat 600 5000 Cauliflower 6795 13519

Potatoes 22000 150000 Tomato 996 4348

Maize 1500 8000 Peas 906 6342

Soya bean 600 1500 Cabbage 5889 8154

Oats 850 3000 Cabbage 5889 8154

Beets (roots) 9000 20000 Beet 4077 9060

Peas 2000 14000

Tomato 5-10 Tons 200 Tons

The chief benefits of various hydroponics systems are:

i) Higher crop yields than ordinary soil.

ii) Free from soil diseases
iii) Faster growth because of availability of plentiful
nutrients supply.
iv) Reduction in growing area due to closer spacing.
v) No hard manual labour and therefore economy of
labour.
vi) Off season crop production.
vii) Pest control easier, if there are any pests.
viii) Organic manures not required.

135
ix) Less fertilizers needed because there is no
wastage.
x) Crops can be grown in hostile conditions - where
normal agriculture / horticulture are not possible.
xi) No erosion or draught risk.
xii) Cheaper than soil.
xiii) No weeding, hence also labour saving.
xiv) Better or improved quality.
(source: R.R. Shah, GAU, Navasari).

Although at present it is expensive, but when we have to

import grains etc. due to hostile edaphic-climatic
conditions, erratic rains, vast areas uncultivable, the
proposed hydroponics technology can boost up our
agricultural produce, especially food scarcity / problem.
Besides, barren areas, deserts, semi-add areas, infertile
lands could be made productive. Water should be
available but due to watershed development, there can be
cooperative farming wherein all members would
participate in terms of money and other requirements
Water scarcity can be mitigated by adopting MIS, using
industrial effluents, especially those from dairies - Sagar
Dairy, Banas Dairy, EFFCO (Kalol) which are nutrient
rich. Thorough tankers these effluents could be brought to
hydroponics area. Even paper pulp, cellulose, starch
(industrial) manufacturing units or industries are nutrient
rich. These or use of such effluents could be most
appropriate as otherwise they are released (discharged) in
open causing water-logging and associated menace -
water-borne diseases.

136
Yet Another Approach to meet with
Water demands in Agriculture: is Use of
Sea Water for Irrigation or Sea-water
Irrigation

Even the sea water has been successfully used all over the
world. At home, CSMCRI, Bhavnagar has carried out lot
of experiments. Their findings are summarized here. The
basic approach to seawater irrigation is to develop a range
of new crops from wild salt tolerant plants or their
relatives that will result in economically affordable yields
when crops are irrigated with sea water. Such salt
resistant varieties have been evolved. Another approach is
to gradually acclimatize non saline crops to sea water
irrigation. At CSMCRI, crops tested were cereals, wheat,
barley, rice and maize - millets - Bajra, Jowar, Ragi;
pulses - red gram, green gram & lentil and oil seeds -
sesame, peanut, sunflower & mustard. According to their
findings, many of the crop varieties tested tolerated up to
10,000 ppm of seawater. It was also observed that
tolerance to seawater salinity is in the order cereals >
pulses > oil seeds > grasses > legumes. There were also
observed variations in various yield attributes. Of course,
there was reduction in yield compared to that under
normal water; but this reduction should not deter us in
using sea water for irrigation as depending upon variety,
% reduction over control rain-fed from 2 to 80% under

137
difficult conditions - pot, sand bed, fields etc. These data
are represented hereunder in table 4.14.

138
 Table 4-f^f: Percentage reduction in Crop Varieties under Seawater irrigation
Crop Total No.of Seawater Tolerance % reduction Remarks
varieties over control
Tolerant (15000 ppm Moderate Tolerant (upto Susceptible (upto
and above) (15%) 10000 ppm) (10%) - 5000 ppm) (5%)
Cereals-Wheat

in
Karchia NP324, J-1-7 J-18, J-40 30 Pot, sand bed and Field studies
Barley

o
BG-131 BG-1, BG-7, BG-137, BG- BG-161, BG-24 Pot and sand bed studies

"ST
138
Millets - Bajra

co
CO
Babapuri (local - BH3, U 1936, NHB 5, Remaining unbrid 25 Pot, sand bed and field studies
selection) GHB-14, GHB-12, GHB-11 and hybrid varieties t

t
Sorghum

f*o
Swarna S-105-1, S- 604 Chandsor Remaining varieties 45 Pot, sand bed and field studies
105-2, S-100-1

Osl
Kodomillet

1
Co-2 75 Pot, sand bed and field studies

CO
Oil seeds - Safflower

1
NP 30 ; 2-3-P, B-38-5, 40 Pot studies
Castor

0>
OS
Junagadh-1 Remaining varieties Pot & sand bed studies

CO
Fiber croo - 1 AN-579-18 Remaining varieties Pot & sand bed studies
Sugarcrop
Sugar beet 20

1
CO

Dobrouvica C & USH-8 Remaining varieties Sand bed studies

f
Sugarcane

O
O
v-
CO-577
a>
CO CM

Pot studies
Veaetables: Onion Local-1 (white selection) Remaining varieties Sand bed & Field studies

I
Garlic Local-1 Anand-1 Pot studies
Tapioca

CM CD CM 00
H-97, H-226, A-2304 Remaining varieties
CO
in

Sand bed studies

Chillies | Highly susceptible
1

Pot studies
Khol-Khol

1
Highly susceptible
«

Pot studies

i
Raddish Pusa resham 28 Sand bed studies

CM in m
Cabbage

1
CO
O

Early wonder Pot studies

139
When Bajra was irrigated directly with seawater [18,000
- 24,000 ppm of total dissolved salts (TDS)] and wheat
with diluted sea water (10,000 - 20,000 ppm), even their
seed-nutritive values were increased in seawater irrigated
Bajra/wheat as is evident from the table 4.15.
Table 4.15
Nutritive value of Bajra & Wheat grown with seawater (percentage
constituents per 100 g seeds). Three samples were listed by the
National Institute of Nutrition (ICMR), ¥[yderabad, India:
Bajra irrigated directly with sea­ Wheat irrigated with diluted sea­
water (18000-24000 ppm) water (10000-20000 ppm)
Constituents
Sea water Normal sample Sea water Normal sample

Moisture % 7.7 12.4 8.6 12.8

Protein % 9.5 12.6 7.3 11.8

Fat % 5.0 5.0 1.5 1.5

*MineraIs % 2.1 1.3 1.5 1.5

Fibre 1.2 1.2 2.1 1.2

♦Carbohydrates % 74.5 67.5 69.1 71.1

♦Calorific value % 381.0 361.0 *51.0 41.0

♦Phosphorus mg 384.0 296.0 248.0 306.0

♦Calcium mg 51.0 42.0 51.0 41.0

♦Iron mg 20.0 5.0 10.3 4.9

♦Thiamene mg 4.46 0.33 0.52 0.45

Riboflavin mg 0.17 0.25 0.18 0.17

Nicotonic acid mg 1.8 2.3 4.9 5.5

A perusal o f the above table - data mentioned therein -

brings out that *-marked constituents are even higher

140
under saline water irrigation especially in Bajra and also
some constituents in wheat. Even though there is
reduction in some constituents under sea water irrigated
Bajra and wheat seeds. Yet the reduction is not drastic or
appreciable. Since both seeds are cereals, chief sources of
carbohydrates - starch, and are consumed for, these
higher % of these Bajra enhances its nutritive value in
terms of calorific value. Even most of the minerals and
some of the B vitamins are higher under sea water
compared to control.
The above findings amply bring out that the seawater
irrigation can be used without affecting the seeds’
nutritive values. Seawater is not adverse to these seeds.
On the contrary, it augurs well for crop production which
is not reduced as compared to normal water - the
reduction % being mentioned in table no. 4.14.
Thus, seawater has a great potential as an irrigation
source and Banaskantha/Patan districts extend up to Little
Rann of Kutch which is on Gulf of Kutch from where sea
water could be procured and brought to farms and tried at
least on the fringe villages of Gulf of Kutch, Patan and
Banaskantha districts.
Further, according to the World Health Organization
(WHO) and Norelyn & Epstein (1982) selected barley
strains which when grown with full strength (no dilution)
yielded at least 50% of the yield obtained under normal
freshwater irrigation.

141
CSMCRI observed that when - Kochia wheat and
Babapuri Bajra varieties were acclimatized to grow with
seawater - 2000 ppm for Kochia wheat and direct sea
water 35000 ppm for Babapuri Bajra with little/slight
yield reduction. Their performance was improved with
N,P,K were added or supplemented. (Source: Crop Response to salt
stress: Seawater application & Prospects by Reddy, Iyengar - Central Salt and Marine
Chemicals Research Institute, Bhavnagar, India - Published in Handbook o f Plant and
Crop Stress, Second Edition, Revised & Expanded, 1999, edited by Mohammed
Persarakli, University o f Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, published by Marcel-Dekker Inc. -
New York, Basel).

Thus, all the three districts where there is water shortage /

deficit, saline soils the above recommended technologies
could be successfully employed, so as to bring more land
under agriculture as these have been tried, tested and
good results obtained.
Even vermiculture is also recommended to improve soil
fertility and soil mulching to increase soil moisture and to
conserve it.
Drainage water reuse for growing plants:
As stated elsewhere, water constraints limit adequate crop
production, as industrial effluents were advocated for use
in irrigated crops. Likewise, efforts have also been made
to test drainage water reuse for growing plants. That large
quantities of water as sewage effluents are discharged
which pollute groundwater is well established. However,
reuse of drainage water has been promoted as eco-
friendly or environmentally sounds method for the
disposal of saline drainage water as has been advocated or

142
recommended by Rhoades (1989). It was observed that
screening and cultivation of selective plant species can,
not only prevent ground water pollution but productivity
could be obtained. Some plants thus tested are Alfalfa,
Chil bhaji, Kochia and Portulacea (Luni-Bhaji). The last
one is considered a source of food for humans and fodder
for livestock (Parker et al., 1991; Wame et al., 1990).
Portuleca accumulates selenium from saline drainage
water reuse system where selenium concentrates is very
high. (Selenium is now prescribed as anti-oxidants).
Chenopodium and Kochia grow better with chloride
salinity.

4.11.1 Sami and Harij Block:

In Gujarat, especially the block of Sami and Harij also having large
saline area. The Sami-Harij area is adjoining the little Raim of
Kutch and has arid climate. Thus, it has an arid coastal ecological
characteristics with an annual rainfall o f450 mm (90 % of which is
received during June to September, when the South-West
Monsoon is actively present in India) and % of 55. The agriculture
of the region is dominated by dry farming. Salinity in soil and
water and water-logging are major constraints in these areas. The
cropping pattern changes every year according to rainfall
distribution and water-logging. The farmers adopt an innovative
farming practice by adopting suitable cropping and by judging the
rainfall periodically and making mid-season correction. There is no
fixed cropping pattern in this region. The GAU situated at
Dantiwada campus, had conducted organised adaptive trial in Sami
and Harij region, during the year 1994-95 to 1997-98; (Total four
years). The important results and findings of adoptive trials can be
summarised as follows.

143
In the screening of crop varieties, the following are emerged as
best varieties (from yield point of view) under rainfed conditions.

CROPS VARIETIES
Mustard GM-2, Varuna
Wheat GW-1, GW-1123
Bajra GHB-235, MH-179
Guvar GG-1
Cotton V-797
Dil-seed Navagam
Safflower Bhima
Gram Ralei (Sorghum) Phule - G-5, ACP-19
Fodder GSU-15
Kharif (Sorghum) Fodder Malvan
Castor GCH-2
Sunflower Modem
Under irrigated conditions following varieties performed
better.
CROPS VARIETIES
Mustard GM-2
Wheat GW-190, GW-496
Amaranthus (Rajagira) GA-1
(source: Final report o f Adaptive Research work o f Sami and Harij
Talukas, (From August 1994 to March 1998), The G. A. U. Sardar
Krishinagar, page - 55).

Therefore, the present study aims at analysing the MIS in

agricultural sectors of North Gujarat, apart of Gujarat State of
which Objectives, Methodology, Selection of samples etc
discussed in the next chapter - V (Objectives, Database,
Definitions and Methodology).

144