Agricultural Research Management Information System

Home
Research Summary
Search
About Us
- ARMIS
- Brochure
Contact Us
Report
User Request
Data Input
Help
- Operation Manual
  - PDF
  - Video
- Program Area & Commodity
We have reached 37600 number of research entries at this moment.

- Logout

Research Detail

Home
Research
Detail

Management of Eight Deep Tubewells with Buried Pipe Distribution Systems in Tangail, Bangladesh: a Case Study

M. H. Rashidi
Principal Scientific Officer & Head
Irrigation and Water Management Division, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute, Joydebpur, Gazipur-1701, Bangladesh.

M. A. K. Mridha
Scientific Officer
Irrigation and Water Management Division, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute, Joydebpur, Gazipur-1701, Bangladesh.

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

Buried cement concrete pipes were used to distribute water from deep tubewells to different parts of the schemes irrigating diversified crops during the dry season. This paper focuses on the management of the deep tubewells and the irrigation systems and also describes the membership of the KSS (Krishak Samabay Samity) on each tubewell, their participation in the management of the scheme and financial arrangements made for operating the tubewell. Budgets were prepared each season, but not followed. The eight KSSs was varying in loan payments. The utilization rates of the tubewells were disappointing, averaging 4.58 hours per day at a discharge of about 35 Ips compared to the design rate of 56 Ips. The irrigated areas were typically less than half the design (40 ha), and irrigation intervals were high. The reasons for this poor performance were found to be a combination of social, managerial and agro-economic factors, and these are discussed in the paper. The management and operation procedures are documented, problems identified and possible improvements are discussed. These include moving to systematic irrigation of fields fed by the same branch in the light of the recommendations of the Irrigation Management Programme (IMP), instead of the current erratic distribution of water under the farmer's fuel system. This case study illustrates some of the difficulties of farmer-managed irrigation systems (FMIS) where farmers' resources are unevenly distributed, particularly in the complex technical and management environment of deep tubewell irrigation.

Keywords: Buried pipe irrigation, Farmers' participants

Location: Madhupur

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Crop-Soil-Water Management

Commodity: Water management

Objectives:

i) To study the technology of BPDS

ii) To study the water management and agronomic practices under BPDS

iii) To study the operational and management aspects.

Methodology:

The study area falls under the Madhupur Tract which has silty clay loam soils, undulated topography, annual rainfall of about 2100 mm, mean monthly temperature of 11 to 39°C and relative humidity of 49 to 88%. November to April is the water deficit period. Diversified crops were grown, mainly transplanted rice (Aus, Aman and Boro), wheat, soybean, watermelon and banana; and the cropping intensity of the area was 233%. Discharge from the DTW and at the outlets were measured using cutthroat flumes. Operational procedures were observed in the field and relevant data were obtained from the pump log-books and the block registers. Data recording in the log-book and the register were routinely checked by the project staff. Data related to socio-economic and management aspects were collected by interviews, from the scheme records and TADP reports and through direct field observations and measurements.

Source of Information: BANGLADESH SOCIETY OF AGRICULTURE ENGINEERS, Vol-1, pp. 168-178, December 15-17, 1997

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

The study area contained varied topography and dispersed housing, under the situation BP systems were found effective for distributing irrigation water over the command area. The average irrigated area was only about half of the intended command area. The inefficient management system, inadequate extension services and low pump discharges were the reasons of these low command areas, not shortcomings of the technology. Extremely low pump operation (4.58 hrs/day and 14 days/month) and many fallow lands were observed. To improve the economic performance of the BP systems, these constraints need to be overcome. Instead of "own fuel" system, project fuel and line rotational water distribution system can enhance engine life, reduce conveyance losses and increase pump operation and hence command areas. Routine preventive maintenance should be practiced. In addition to that effective extension services, both in agronomic and in the water management aspects, are essential to make the buried pipe schemes more attractive and profitable.

Knowledge Management: Journal