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• Advantages of drip irrigation were- high initial costs, clogging and maintenance issues.
b. Farm Ponds:
• Average sizes of farms in Ahmednagar and Aurangabad districts were 15.47 and 8.48 acres
respectively.
• In terms of surface area, the majority of farm ponds observed at Ahmednagar district were more
than 20000 square feet and at Aurangabad district were less than 15000 square feet in size.
• It was found that the cost of construction at Ahmednagar district was Rs.1 lakh to Rs. 3 lakh and that
at Aurangabad district was Rs. 3 lakh to Rs 10 lakh.
• Only 31.25% of the farmers surveyed in Ahmednagar district and 38.46% of the farmers surveyed in
Aurangabad district received subsidies for the construction of farm ponds.
• 50% of the farmers surveyed in Ahmednagar district and 23.08% of the farmers surveyed in
Aurangabad district availed credit for constructing farm ponds.
• Itwas found that 77.58%and57.98%of the cultivable landwas irrigatedby farmponds at Ahmednagar
and Aurangabad districts respectively. Change in cropping patterns was observed from low to high
value yielding crops after farm pond construction.
• Average yearly income through cultivation of crops under farm ponds was Rs.1087500 and Rs.
693077 at Ahmednagar and Aurangabad districts respectively.
• There was a negligible increase in surrounding well water levels due to farm ponds.
• Farm pond water was used in both Kharif and Rabi seasons in Ahmednagar but only Rabi season in
Aurangabad districts.
Major Recommendations:
• Expansion of the ‘Jal Yukta Shivar’ project and completion of remaining works.
• Addressing the gap between subsidy allotted for farm pond construction and the subsidy demanded
for it and increasing the number of subsidies for farm pond allotted in accordance with their rising
demand amongst farmers.
• Selective farmers whose investment capital has been impaired by the drought maybe considered for
another subsidy towards drip irrigation.
• Increasing the timely flow of beneficial information towards farmers.
• The rural literacy levels need to be raised. Higher, specialized and technical education needs to be
promoted and extended to as many areas as possible.
• Strengthening the lender farmer relationship. Directing the subsidy payable to farmers for drip
irrigation to the sugar factories so that their credit disbursements towards the farmers regarding
drip irrigation are recovered. Checking the rising number of NPA’s in banks regarding drip irrigation
and farm ponds loans.
• The government needs to take stringent measures to ensure that the subsidy reaches on time to the
farmers as delays in subsidy affects the farmer’s working capital.
• Strengthening the insurance structure for drip irrigation and increasing the penetration of
agricultural credit.
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