Odisha Achieves Major Gains in Irrigation Efficiency and Farm Income, Reveals Water Resource Study

Bhubaneswar: In a major stride toward sustainable water resource management, the Government of Odisha has reported remarkable improvements in irrigation efficiency, farmer income, and agricultural productivity, according to an independent evaluation study shared at a high-level meeting chaired by Anu Garg, Development Commissioner-cum-Additional Chief Secretary, Water Resources Department.

The meeting, held on April 25, 2025, focused on assessing the impact of the Command Area Development and Water Management (CAD&WM) and Reconstruction of Field Channels (RCOFC) schemes during the period 2021–22 to 2023–24. Senior officials from the Water Resources Department, Finance, and other key stakeholders were present.

The study, which evaluated six sample irrigation divisions across the state, revealed transformative outcomes:

• Irrigated land coverage rose dramatically from 44% to 89%, marking a 102% increase in Irrigation Potential Utilised (IPU).
• Average household-level irrigated land doubled from 0.9 acre to 1.8 acres.
• Paddy yields increased by 18%, and household income saw a substantial 84% rise.
• Enhanced cropping intensity, greater farmer engagement through Pani Panchayats, and visible socio-economic upliftment in rural areas were also noted.

The study credited these gains to targeted interventions across 59 major, medium, and minor irrigation command areas, including the use of reconstructed field channels and participatory water governance models.

While the results were overwhelmingly positive, the evaluation also recommended improvements in construction standards of field channels, maintenance protocols, and governance reforms to ensure long-term sustainability.

Ms. Garg, while lauding the achievements, stressed the importance of technology-driven, inclusive, and farmer-centric reforms. She called for timely project execution, robust monitoring mechanisms, and greater integration with digital platforms for real-time oversight and transparency.