Impact of irrigation on agricultural development: a case study of the Jayakwadi irrigation project

In this paper an attempt is made to assess impact of Jayakwadi Irrigation project on cropping pattern, cropping intensity and crop diversification, crop productivity, employment generation and agricultural development in the vicinity of the command area of this project. Jayakwadi project is the largest irrigation project in the Maharashtra state across river Godavari at Paithan (Dist. Aurangabad). The project is completed in the two stages Paithan Dam and Majalgaon Dam and may irrigate about 2.75 lakhs hector area. Both of dam are of composite nature having 2909 M. Cu.M. and 454 M. Cu.m as gross storage capacities respectively.

Jayakwadi project helped for promoting agricultural development of backward Marathwada region. The irrigation facility created by the Jayakwadi project has changed the cropping pattern. It is found that, there is very much divergence between project cropping patterns recommended by policy makers and the crop preferences of the farmers. Hence there is need for better cropping pattern. The degree of crop diversification in the command as well as in the uncommand area of the Jayakwadi project is found to be very high. This indicates that the farmers from command, and also in uncommand area grow more number of crops to reduce risk and uncertainty may be caused by failure of some or other crop. Further, canal irrigation facility enables adoption of double or multiple cropping, thereby increased cropping intensity in the command area of the Jayakwadi project. The average crop yields of most of the crops are found more in the Jayakwadi command area as compared with uncommand area, and even regional averages. But these yields are far from the potential yield leavels. Further there is large degree of the variability found in the crop yields. Due to irrigation facility the availability of the employment opportunities to landless labourers are found to be more in the command area of the Jayakwadi project then uncommand area.further few labours from uncommand area also getting opportunity to work in the command area of the Jayakwadi project. Apart from irrigation, Jayakwadi project is supplying water to domestic and industrial purposes. Drinking water is supplied to Aurangabad city, Jalna, Ambad, Sheogan, Newasa, Gangapur, etc. Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) areas of various cities are developed due to water supplied from Jayakwadi project. Fast industrial development of Aurangabad is due to Jayakwadi project. Fish production and flood control are also other purposes of the Jayakwadi project. Due to dam site, Dnyanewshwar Udyan, Bird Sanctuary, Paithan has become centre of tourist attraction apart from being a religious and historical place.