Bhubaneswar: Development Commissioner-cum-Additional Chief Secretary of Department of Water Resources, Anu Garg visited Ganjam district on Sunday to review sustainable irrigation projects aimed at promoting climate-resilient agriculture.
Garg met with members of the Radhakrishna Pani Panchayat under the Ittagadia Bandha Minor Irrigation Project (MIP) in Chhatrapur block, which has been enhanced as part of the Odisha Integrated Irrigation Project for Climate Resilient Agriculture (OIIPCRA).
During the visit, she engaged with farmers to discuss the positive impacts of adopting climate-resilient practices and technologies in the area.
The improvements to the irrigation infrastructure include enhanced headworks for the water tank and newly constructed canals and field channels to optimize water use. Solar bore wells have also been installed, allowing for conjunctive water use and ensuring a reliable water supply.
To further support sustainable practices, demonstrations were conducted on green manuring, mechanized direct-seeded rice (DSR), and improved cultivation techniques for crops such as ragi, green gram, and sunflower.
A Custom Hiring Centre (CHC) has been established at the Pani Panchayat level, enabling affordable access to essential farm implements. Additionally, Women Self-Help Groups (SHGs) have been empowered through the creation of mini dal mills, small oil extraction units, and millet processing facilities.
In efforts to boost farmers’ incomes, the area under hybrid vegetable cultivation has been expanded, while small and marginal farmers have increased their earnings with the establishment of mushroom and vermicomposting units.
To reduce post-harvest losses, preservation units and pack houses have been developed, ensuring better storage and handling of farm produce.
The OIIPCRA project seeks to enhance agricultural productivity, diversify crops, and improve climate resilience within the command areas of Minor Irrigation (MI) tanks across 15 districts in Odisha. Key components of the project include climate-smart production intensification and diversification covering agriculture, horticulture, and fisheries; improved irrigation access and water productivity; and institutional capacity strengthening.
Project activities focus on tank system improvements to augment water availability and assure irrigation, promoting climate-smart agriculture practices among Pani Panchayat members, enhancing farmers’ capacities, and supporting marketing initiatives for farm produce.
