288
traditional canal irrigation system, the agricultural productivity of the village is
found to be higher in comparison to the district- and state-level productivity
(Table 16.3).
It is evident from the Table 16.3 that the average yield of both the autumn and
winter rice is much higher than the district and state average. It is, however, noteworthy that majority of the villagers are now not interested in cultivating ahu rice
(autumn rice) in spite of its relatively high productivity. During the last decade
(2000–2010), the village experienced a sharp decline in the area under ahu rice. The
productivity of maize and mustard has also been higher than the state and district
average. This may be attributed mainly to the water input provided by the dong
system of irrigation managed by the local communities themselves.
16.7 Problems and Potentialities
The traditional water resource management systems across the world have been facing serious challenges under the influence of the changing socio-economic and
political situations (Baker 1999; Roth 2014). Like in many other parts of the world,
the century-old indigenous dong-bandh irrigation system in the foothill area of
Assam has also been facing some serious problems. The villagers reported that during the last 25–30 years or so, the volume of water discharge of the Pagladiya river
has declined significantly. They said that in earlier days it was not possible to cross
the river on foot even in the winter season as the volume of water was much higher
than what it is now.
It is seen that the perennial canals within the village have slowly turned into
seasonal ones. At present, during the monsoon season (June to September) only,
uninterrupted water supply through the canals is possible. In the rest of the year, the
villagers have to share water only through a few of the major canals (Fig. 16.4).
From post-monsoon to pre-monsoon season, the canals get water at an interval of
7–15 days, and as a result, the villagers have now faced serious water scarcity problem, particularly in the winter season, which has adversely affected the cropping
pattern and crop productivity.
In the past, almost all the farmers used to cultivate three crops in a year – autumn
and winter rice and rabi crops. The local ahu rice variety, which was cultivated by
Table 16.3 Average yield of crops, 2017–2018
Area
Average yield of crops (kg/ha)
Autumn rice
Winter rice
Maize
Mustard
Assam
1364
2003
3061
667
Baksa district
2086
2124
3150
519
Chaulkara village
2439
2932
3735
896
Source: Compiled from the Director of Economics and Statistics, Govt. of Assam and field survey,
2017–2018
S. Saha et al.
traditional canal irrigation system, the agricultural productivity of the village is
found to be higher in comparison to the district- and state-level productivity
(Table 16.3).
It is evident from the Table 16.3 that the average yield of both the autumn and
winter rice is much higher than the district and state average. It is, however, noteworthy that majority of the villagers are now not interested in cultivating ahu rice
(autumn rice) in spite of its relatively high productivity. During the last decade
(2000–2010), the village experienced a sharp decline in the area under ahu rice. The
productivity of maize and mustard has also been higher than the state and district
average. This may be attributed mainly to the water input provided by the dong
system of irrigation managed by the local communities themselves.
16.7 Problems and Potentialities
The traditional water resource management systems across the world have been facing serious challenges under the influence of the changing socio-economic and
political situations (Baker 1999; Roth 2014). Like in many other parts of the world,
the century-old indigenous dong-bandh irrigation system in the foothill area of
Assam has also been facing some serious problems. The villagers reported that during the last 25–30 years or so, the volume of water discharge of the Pagladiya river
has declined significantly. They said that in earlier days it was not possible to cross
the river on foot even in the winter season as the volume of water was much higher
than what it is now.
It is seen that the perennial canals within the village have slowly turned into
seasonal ones. At present, during the monsoon season (June to September) only,
uninterrupted water supply through the canals is possible. In the rest of the year, the
villagers have to share water only through a few of the major canals (Fig. 16.4).
From post-monsoon to pre-monsoon season, the canals get water at an interval of
7–15 days, and as a result, the villagers have now faced serious water scarcity problem, particularly in the winter season, which has adversely affected the cropping
pattern and crop productivity.
In the past, almost all the farmers used to cultivate three crops in a year – autumn
and winter rice and rabi crops. The local ahu rice variety, which was cultivated by
Table 16.3 Average yield of crops, 2017–2018
Area
Average yield of crops (kg/ha)
Autumn rice
Winter rice
Maize
Mustard
Assam
1364
2003
3061
667
Baksa district
2086
2124
3150
519
Chaulkara village
2439
2932
3735
896
Source: Compiled from the Director of Economics and Statistics, Govt. of Assam and field survey,
2017–2018
S. Saha et al.