Conjunctive planning of surface and groundwater resources in canal command area of Odisha- a success story

Conjunctive planning of irrigation through bore wells, dug wells and water harvesting structures along with farmers’ participatory approach in Pattamundai canal command area of Odisha could increase cropping intensity from 151% > to > 300 with high value and less water requirement crops Interventions showed that during long dry spell period in kharif season and non availa3ility of canal water, use of groundwater up to 20% > of the crop water demand could enhance crop yield up to 21% > utilizing water from dug well, for three crops short duration paddy- potato/ radish-bitter gourd in ayear recorded highest net return of Rs 87368/ha against two crops paddy - brinjal) without depletion of groundwater level Further,highest water producAvity kg fruit yield/m of water used) was observed in potato 6.67-8.41 followed by brinjal4.06-4.42