In spite of being the most fundamental stakeholder, farmers often receive least attention for assessment of irrigation performance. Present study assessed the performance of groundwater irrigation systems being managed by water user associations (WUAs) in Burdwan (East) district of West Bengal from the perspectives of farmers during the year 2019. A random sample of 120 famers under four groundwater irrigation systems perceived that most of the parameters of irrigation performance in term of irrigation service utility at a higher level with mean perception score >4.0 except for the certainty of water delivery (2.67) leading to overall mean perception score 4.12 in kharif season. Farmers perceived similarly in rabi season with overall mean perception score 4.15; however, the overall perception of farmers regarding irrigation in summer season was relatively low (3.78). Overall irrigation performances under the jurisdiction of WUAs was perceived very good by all the farmers for all three seasons with index values more than 93 per cent. The farmers’ participation in irrigation management has helped in better water management that advocates for promoting participatory irrigation management through WUAs in all the minor irrigation systems to overcome low irrigation efficiency and other management constraints being faced in irrigated areas.
The groundwater irrigation, catering to more than 60 per cent of total irrigation in India, has significantly contributed to food grains production. Participatory irrigation management programme has been implemented transferring irrigation management to WUAs. Present study was undertaken during 2019 to explore cropping scenario in groundwater irrigation command under jurisdiction of WUAs in Burdwan district of West Bengal covering a random sample of 120 farmers. It is revealed that paddy was the major crop in both kharif and summer season. During rabi season, potato was grown in larger areas followed by mustard. While all 120 farmers had grown paddy as single crop in kharif season, 100 and 82 farmers have cultivated potato and mustard in rabi season and 75 farmers have grown boro rice during summer season. Cultivated land utilization index value was more than 50 per cent. Crop diversity index (CDI) value of 36 per cent showed lack of crop diversification in groundwater irrigation command areas that warrants need of bringing more areas under different crops. Multiple cropping index of 176 per cent showed a higher cropping intensity in groundwater irrigation command. Thus, Extension advisory services need to promote crop diversification in groundwater irrigation command areas through proper crop planning and capacity building of WUAs.
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