West Bengal Accelerated Development of Minor Irrigation (WBADMI) Project had been initiated by the Water Resources Investigation & Development Department (WRIDD),Government of West Bengal since 2012 to increase the agriculture production of 1,00,000 farmers particularly small & marginal farmers in the rain-fed single cropped areas of West Bengal by providing assured irrigation facilities in 75000 ha area. Since 2019, under the guidance of the District Project Management Unit (DPMU), SPADE, as a Supporting Organisation (SO), is facilitating the implementation of the WBADMI Project in 3 districts of West Bengal, viz., Howrah, Murshidabad, and Birbhum. Major tasks of SPADE involves strengthening 318 Farmer Community- based Organizations (WUAs) in the 3 selected districts for up-gradation of cultivable land area with monitoring of 370 Minor Irrigation Schemes, collection of INR 41 lakh as Water Charges, controlling the supply of water among 20670 members, promoting crop planning, water budgeting, water scheduling, collecting, costing, etc. besides identification of more than 1000new scheme through watershed approach involving a sum of INR 138 crore. The key deliverables for SPADE are:
- Baseline survey, Need of EPA- if any, Rapid Rural Appraisal (RRA) & Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) & Identification of Potential micro-watersheds/Individual Schemes.
- Formation and Nurturing of Water Users Associations (WUA) and FPO/FPG (as and when required), Orientation of WUA on land & water development plan preparation and Capacity Building of WUA for sustainable operation, maintenance and management of MI Schemes& helping with the field data in preparation of SDMP (Scheme Dev. Management Plan) by DPMU.
- Implementation of Crop Planning, Land & Soil conservation by plantation, promoting horticulture, waste land intervention and fishery related activities as per instruction from DPMU.
- Conducting Training program of key functionaries of WUA, WUA& it’s beneficiaries on implementation of various project activities with the help of DPMU.
- Baseline and other data uploading in the MIS.
- Different types of reporting according to Project needs.
Consistent effort towards skill enhancement of the beneficiaries through training and facilitation support by the concerned subject matter specialists of the DPMU Team had facilitated the adaptation of many new techniques and methods in agriculture, which had significantly enhanced the income as well as livelihood opportunities of the WUA members. Community-based integrated farming through the adoption of modern techniques like vermin compost, micronutrients, and bio inputs, use of Tensiometer for soil moisture assessment, integrated pest management, farm mechanization (power tiller, paddy weeder, paddy transplanter, and solar trapper), seed treatment with bio inputs, scientific methods for seedling preparation, the SARP method for paddy cultivation, mulching, poly house structures along with a solar or electric-based drip irrigation system, etc., are to name a few. The consequences are enhancement of yield, reduction of costs, conservation of soil fertility, reduction in the use of harmful chemical fertilizers and pesticides, etc.
To strengthen the WUAs as institutions, the SO team is mobilizing the WUA members to attend meetings regularly, participate in awareness campaigns, run the Farm School Programme, participate in inter-district Exposure Visits, maintain detailed records and registers, and conduct an Annual Audit of the records by third-party agencies. Besides, effective collaboration among the members and convergence with the different government departments have encouraged the beneficiaries to utilize the waterbodies commercially through promoting financially lucrative aquaculture practices such as Indian Major Carps, Exotic Carps, and Indigenous Air Breathing Fishes that have facilitated generating revenue to the tune of Rs 3.40 lakhs for the WUA members by breeding, rearing, and selling larvivorous fish (Guppy) that prevent the spread of mosquito-borne diseases. Another important development is that gradually most of the WUAs are realising the importance of the creation of Reserve Funds to encounter different contingencies. Obviously, this is a step towards sustainability.
Dissemination of IEC materials, particularly on pest and disease control, weather forecasting, etc., is a major outcome of this project that facilitates the farmers’ ability to prevent crop damage, plan and schedule farming activities, adopt new crops and farming methodologies, etc. Another significant development is the gradually increasing utilization of digital platforms for resolving livelihood-related issues. Obviously, Murshidabad Unit might be a good example wherein close interaction among members and the DPMU Team became feasible through WhatsApp Groups.
SPADE under the guidance of DPMU – Birbhum in displaying the actual developments that had taken place in Rajnagar, the district’s most drought-affected zone, during the Jungal Mahal Utsav this year. Various types of vegetables grown by the WUA members as a result of WBADMIP interventions were displayed, which were applauded by the entire district administration.
Through convergence with government schemes, the SPADE team has been able to provide hand tractors to a few WUAs in February this year, including Rampur Kalimata WUA under MD Bazar Block. This has benefited the tribal community in the Block. Also, through this initiative, the Bangla KrishiSechYojana became a major contributor for Micro level irrigation systems.
In March 2023, the SO team of Birbhum organized an Awareness Promotion Camp on Women’s Day comprising members from multiple WUAs, and the participants together resolved that more women members shall be incorporated in the WUAs so as to assure women’s empowerment.
Since the last 3 months, SPADE, as SO under DPMU-Birbhum, has initiated the process of promoting a FPO in collaboration with NABARD at Godhadhorpur in Birbhum.
Project Areas: Birbhum, Murshidabad, Howrah.
