1Post-Graduate Scholar, Department of Agricultural Extension, Institute of Agriculture, Visva-Bharati University, Sriniketan-731236, West Bengal
2Professor and Head, Department of Agricultural Extension, Institute of Agriculture, Visva-Bharati University, Sriniketan-731236, West Bengal
Present study was conducted in Birbhum district of West Bengal covering 40 farmers each represented from river lift, groundwater lift and canal irrigation command areas, respectively. In canal irrigation command, farmers perceived irrigation service utility best during kharif season with an overall performance score 4.10 on a 5-point continuum scale. However, the farmers perceived overall irrigation service utility less than average in rabi season (mean perception score 1.90). However, farmers perceived irrigation service utility better in summer season with overall mean perception score of 3.00 that may be attributed to the fact of irrigation availability for boro rice cultivation. Farmers in both river lift and groundwater irrigation commands perceived the irrigation service utility higher in all three seasons kharif being the best with overall mean perception score >4.00 followed by rabi (>3.50) and summer season (>3.00). Infrastructure scenario of river lift and groundwater irrigation systems are perceived better as compared to canal irrigation system due to better control mechanism, conveyance efficiency with water supply through field channels, etc that may be attributed to the fact of farmers’ participation in irrigation management under water user associations in case of both river lift and groundwater irrigation systems, where better cropping scenario was also observed.
Farmers’ perceptions, Groundwater irrigation, Irrigation performance, Surface irrigation, Water user associations
