JBIC September 2007 Tour Programme Report

Day 1. SRI FFS The delegation visited the SRI Farmers Field School promoted by JalaSpandana in Grandivemula village under Gadivemula mandal. The team had to travel small stretch of farm path by Tractor due to bad farm road. The farmer of SRI FFS Mr. Muniswamy explained the extension services provided by JalaSpandana, SRI method, the differences experienced in the growth of the paddy crop between SRI and normal paddy method, etc,. The standing crop both normal paddy method and SRI was compared in terms of number of tillerings and duration, SRI in 51 days had 48 tillerings, whereas paddy normal method had 18 tillerings. In addition, the length of the crop under SRI was more lengthy compared to normal paddy.

Interaction with WUAs After successful coverage of SRI FFS, the team proceed to Farmers Training School established on the Thudicherla Canal near Pesaravai village. Representatives of WUAs and DC along with 160 farmers including women representatives from Raithu Mithra Groups (RMGs), Self Help Groups (SHGs) and other probable beneficiaries under livelihoods programme participated in the interactive discussion with the delegation.

JalaSpandana and WUA representatives had organised exhibition that contained sessions like photo album, seed both wet and irrigated dry crops, SRI plant growth, farm equipment and WUA records. Dr. Rama Subbaiah M.A, PhD, Programme Coordinator of JalaSpandana delivered the welcome address, followed by Mr. R. Doraiswamy briefing the purpose of the delegates visit, achievements of capacity building and sustainability of WUAs, and the importance of the open feed back from the farmers to strengthen the WUAs. Mr. K. Amarnath gave introductory note on the developments carried out after modernisation programme and capacity building exercise. He narrated the departments initiative in developing model farms on pilot basis and this farmers training school is one such achievement. Mr. Damodar Reddy, Chindukur WUA President, explained the contents of the training programme and WUAs involvement, the benchmark before the capacity building and achievements there after in terms of establishing WUA office, records maintenance, meetings, crop and water management including gauge recording, WUAs involvement in water tax collection, etc. He listed out the farm equipments and income generating activities including livelihoods programme catering to other sections of the people in the command area. With regard to Water tax collection, Mr. Reddy said that prior to NGOs training programme, they thought taking over the responsibility of water tax collection called for unnecessary trouble and were not willing to come forward. Whereas after training programme, the representatives of WUAs are willing to take over the responsibilities of water tax collection. Mr. Ramachandra Reddy, DC president, gave description of the regular meetings carried out by DC, establishment of training school and its utilities, etc. Earlier, there was no good response from the Department to WUAs, where as now WUAs are consulted for most of the issues like water release, works, etc,. He also displayed the records maintained both at DC level and WUA level.

There were large number of women participants representing SHGs, RMGs and WUAs in the interactive meeting. Mrs. Lakshmamma from Raithu Mithra Group briefed the soil testing training she received and the attempts made by the women group locally in spreading the information and carrying out soil testing activity. She expressed her keen interest in the livelihoods programme through WUAs, which is intensively discussed during the training programme. Farmers participated in the discussion by sharing their experience after training programme, particularly in water scheduling and interaction with the irrigation department. Earlier, farmers were not informed authentically when the water would be released and stopped where as now WUA is active and NGOs are providing these information.

Ms. Onishi sought clarification on the water tax issue, that what makes WUAs say that they are willing to take over the collection responsibility. Mr. Damodar Reddy replied saying that during the training programme, merits and demerits of taking over was discussed and after detailed discussion, they see lot of merits when they take over the collection. He listed out merits like, proper demand list can be generated locally, regular operation and maintenance can be carried out by the apportionment, which could happen simultaneously, etc,. Ms. Onishi, shared her experiences of irrigation in South Africa and praised farmers of KCC and the situation in India in terms of knowledge in irrigation and collective action. She also expressed happiness over the capacity building and farmers interest in the modernisation programme. Mr. Ebiharah expressed his happiness over the field visit and interactive session and wished for sustenance of the same.

Mr. K. Varadharajulu, Superintendent Engineer, summed up whole deliberation including the support sought by the WUAs and other CBOs in the region. He also assured to take the matter to the higher level and find means to support the WUAs and other CBOs to improve water use efficiency and improved livelihoods. Some of the points that was registered during the meeting for departments involvement are namely water tax issue in which apportionment need to be carried upon, WUAs are willing to take over the tax collection, loans disbursement through WUAs, involvement of WUAs in water scheduling, extension of NGOs services and extension of farm equipments to other WUAs.

Day 2. A meeting of representatives of WUAs and DC was organised by APARD NGO at SE office, Kurnool. The entire delegation participated in the programme.