Odisha’s First Underground Pipeline Based Irrigation For Bijepur.
In order to provide irrigation for different crops, Odisha, which has seen seven cyclones in the last three years, has installed underground pipelines.
In response to climate change, Odisha is considering crops that use less water.
Pipeline-based irrigation system
It debuted in 2017.
The pipeline-based irrigation system promotes crop diversity and effective water utilisation.
With the state government’s emphasis on crop diversification, Odisha has finished more than 3.5 lakh hectares (lh) of such a system, and the total area under it is anticipated to expand to 4 lh.
Pros
Cross Drainage and Cross Masonry (Communication) constructions can be eliminated or minimised, and pipe systems are better equipped to fit current patterns of land ownership with the least amount of interruption.
During the rainy season, irrigation projects obstruct free drainage of water, which causes standing crops and even villages to be flooded.
More suitable solution for areas prone to flooding;
No damage caused by excessive rain or flooding during the monsoon.
The main goals of modernising irrigation schemes and digital management will be met when water is delivered through the piped irrigation network, as there will be no obstructions to farmers’ and farm equipment’s mobility.
Chemicals and fertilisers may also be combined with water.
Since the amount of water delivered by the piped irrigation network is simple to measure, water auditing can be done with accuracy.
Drawbacks
Piped irrigation networks may not be appropriate if the irrigation water contains significant amounts of sediments, and their initial costs are often greater than those of canal distribution networks.
In these circumstances, desilting arrangement would be required.
Application
In areas where water is valuable both in terms of the crops that can be cultivated there and in terms of its limited supply, as shown by low reservoir capacity or stringent regulations on the withdrawal of water from groundwater or river sources.
Where open canal seepage losses from poorly cohesive soils would be very high.
When high ground levels prevent an open canal system from reaching irrigable land.
Odisha Millet Mission
It is a flagship programme of the Government of Odisha’s Department of Agriculture and Farmers.
The Odisha Millets Mission, a special programme for the promotion of millets in tribal areas of Odisha, was introduced in 2017.
As part of the free meals served in schools, Odisha has introduced ragi in anganwadis and plans to do the same with millet.
