1. STRENGTHENING PP governance for resilient water resources
A case of Pani Panchayat in Odisha:
a building block for a Green Climate Fund Project
Regional Dialogue
Bangkok
4th-6th March 2019
Dr. Ashok Kumar Singha, CEO, CTRAN Consulting

2. Climate change and impact on water sector in Odisha
About 54 percent of India faces high to extremely high water stress
16 percent of our ground water wells are decreasing by more than one meter per year and will become critical soon
With a global mean warming of 2°C above pre-industrial levels, food water requirements in India will exceed green water availability.
Odisha as per the latest version of its SAPCC is likely to see a rise of rise in max temp by deg C and min temp 0.3 to 2.7 deg C; rainfall is likely to be quite variable having a range from -4.6% to +25.7% in districts. [Under RCP 4.5 mid- century)
Odisha receives about 1200 mm in southern coastal plain to about 1700 mm in northern plateau.
65% of its arable area is rainfed
Ground water condition is currently fine but projected to be critical by mid century

3. Problem context
Odisha receives significant amount of rainfall but in yield gap in major crops is more than 10-20%.
Odisha faces frequent droughts and flood events
Odisha’s agriculture is least diversified result: price shocks, crop loss and distress sale. Higher the diversification-higher the income
Economic Survey, 2018

4. Challenges
65% of the total work force and contributes 26% of the net state domestic product.
Cropping during Rabi season is mainly confined to irrigated areas or areas with residual moisture
Potential salinity due to low conjunctive use
Large number of small holders
Reducing gap between Irrigation Potential Created and Utilized. (gap is from 40-60%), medium and minor having higher gaps
Improving efficiency in irrigation projects and increasing water productivity
Big dams have bigger problems vs decentralized tank based system
Supporting development of sustainable local institutions for maintenance and management of irrigation systems

5. Irrigation potential unmet
IPC: Irrigation potential created, IPU: Irrigation Potential Utilised

6. Pani Panchayat and functions
Pani Panchayat, a water-user collective. The Orissa Farmers Management Irrigation Act of provides for the establishment of farmers organizations in all the irrigation systems, for their operation and maintenance. It has been subsequently amended in 2008.

7. Role of Pani Panchayat
To prepare cropping programme considering the soil and agro climatic condition with due regards to crop diversification.
To prepare a plan for the maintenance of irrigation system in the area of its operation at the end of the  each crop season and carry out the maintenance works with the funds of the PaniPanchayats from time to time.
To regulate the use of water among the various pipe outlets under its area of its operation according to the warabandi schedule of the system.
To promote economy in the use of water allotted.
To assist the Revenue and Disaster Management Department in the preparation of demand and collection of water rates except EC aided projects and L.I projects where the farmers collect water tax among themselves.
To resolve the disputes, if any, between the members and water users in its area of operation and to raise resources.

8. Status of Pani Panchayat in Odisha as on 2018
Sl. No
Sector
No of PPs
Area (in Ha) 1
Major and Medium
2641 (9%)
(55%) 2
Minor
3056 (10%)
(19%) 3
Orissa Lift Irrigation Corporation(OLIC)
24438 (81%)
(26%) 4
Total
30315
54% of the total irrigated area of the state have PPs

9. change in planning and water governance by PP
solutions
change in planning and water governance by PP
Key Focus of our strategy: Focus on Rabi cropping & promote conjunctive use
Key elements:
Pani panchayat based integrated agriculture and irrigation planning
Canal operational planning and scheduling
Operational Plan for field channels
Crop-water Budgeting
Incentive Planning

10. Medium irrigation project

11. Incentivizing pps PPs receive Rs 100/ annum maintenance grants
PPs prepare crop plan
PPs who diversify to non-paddy crop save water and get additional grant
No of irrigation saved in Kharif
Dept. gives equivalent of water charge as grant to PP
No of irrigation saved in Rabi
Dept. gives equivalent of water charge as grant to PP

12. Three scenarios
Baseline: representing current water management practice;
Scenario-1: with intervention only on on-farm water management; and
Scenario-2: with additional interventions of crop diversification (groundnut, grams, maize, vegetables in Rabi) diverting some area from gram in kharif form paddy on top of on-farm water management

13. Cost benefit under different scenarios
Baseline
Cost
Benefit
PP No
Crops (ha)
Irrigation Cost Saved (Rs)
Cost of Cultivation (Rs)
Benefit from Crops (Rs)
BC Ratio
Cropping Intensity (%)
Kharif
Rabi 3
338.34
20,968,283.16
39,913,124
1.903
180 4
345.86
172.93
17,861,939.70
34,000,199
150 5
365.05
16,339,272.95
31,101,804
130 6
383.50
115.05
17,165,076.50
32,673,721 10
433.03
14,909,222.90
28,379,704
100
Total
87,243,795.21
16,6068,552

14. Cost benefit under different scenarios
Scenario 1 (With On-Farm Water Management intervention keeping cropping pattern same as baseline cropping pattern)
PP No
Crops (Ha)
Cost of Irrigation Saved= Incentive from Department
Cost of Cultivation
Benefit (from Crops)
Total Benefit
BC Ratio
Cropping Intensity (%)
Incentive per ha
Incentive Share for PP institutions
Incentive Share for farmers 1 2 3 4 5 6
7 (4+6)
8=7/5
9=((2+3)/2)*100
10=4/2 11 12
Kharif
Rabi
338.34
169914
2.33
180
502.2
125.55
376.65
345.86
172.93
144742
150
418.5
365.05
132404
130
362.7
90.675
383.5
115.05
139095 10
433.03
120815
100
279
69.75
209.25

15. Cost benefit under different scenarios
Scenario 2 (With On-Farm Water Management intervention and Crop Diversification)
PP No
Crops (Ha)
Cost of Irrigation Saved= Incentive from Department
Cost of Cultivation
Cost of Benefit
Total Benefit
BC Ratio
Cropping Intensity (%)
Incentive per ha from water saving
Incentive per Ha for Crop Diversification 1 2 3 4 5 6
7=(4+6)
8=7/5
9=((2+3)/2)*100
10=4/2 11
Kharif
Rabi
338.34
295
2.44
187
1378
243
345.86
267
2.48
177
931
239
365.05
259
2.45
171
580
222
383.5
300
2.52
178
487
209 10
423.03
369
2.74
183
132
212

16. FINANCIAL FRAMEWORK to Scale up
Stage-1: only water related activity,
Stage-2: water plus supply of production inputs,
Stage-3: water plus inputs plus output marketing and
Stage-4: all activities mentioned in stage-3 plus marketing oriented production, value added production and other business expansion.

17. Operational framework
Application by Water Users indicating cropwise area for a crop season
Compilation of cropwise area, scrutiny and corrections of applications
Water Volume Demand Calculation
Checking water availability from Project
Matching water demand with water availability and water allocation plan

18. Integrated planning process

19. PP calendar

20. Key lessons
Pani panchayats in the state need strengthening in the following areas:
Water management
Crop management
Financial management
Conflict resolution
Social audit
The current level of awareness on various schemes, subsidies and benefits are still low
It is possible to improve the cropping intensity and farmers’ income significantly from the baseline situation by both on farm water management and diversification to non-paddy low duty crops in rabi. Possible crops are groundnut, grams, maize and high value vegetables.
The incentive scheme which is linked to saving numbers of irrigation in kharif and taking low water requiring crops can be equalled to the water saved. Additional incentive can be provided on water tax collected. This will be in addition to the Rs 500/ha maintenance grant already received by the PPs. They can share this among members and can invest in common infrastructure.
Apex Pani Panchayat should be identified as one of the key intermediary institutions (like FPOs) in enhancing farmers’ access to inputs and markets.

21. Thank you
Contact for further information