WAYS FORWARD TO USE GROUNDWATER BY SMALL AND MARGINAL FARMERS’ (EXPERIENCE, LESSONS AND OPPORTUNITIES)

Surface irrigation systems in terms of major and medium canals are spread allover. However, it has been debated that the unreliability of these systems in terms of adequacy and timings, affects severely to small and marginal farmers. On the other hand irrigation water from ground water is one of the most assured source on which one can rely. Considering the constraints such as small and fragmented land holdings, poor socio-economic conditions etc. restricts the groundwater use to enhance land productivity and ultimately any improvement in their livelihood. It has been always observed that whenever small/marginal farmers have got opportunities to invest quality inputs timely it directly results into enhanced productivity in comparison to medium and large farmers. Countries like India comprises of a large number of small and marginal farmers who are suffering by these constraints. One of the best solutions in this case has been experienced in India by encouraging small and marginal farmers to go for community tube wells. This has paid rich dividends in those areas which need to be widened in a sustainable manner to other areas also after understanding the experiences and lessons of existing arrangements. This paper tries to discuss some of the case studies where the concept of community tube well has been introduced and based on their experiences and lessons what could be the better opportunities that exists.