Odisha’s Irrigation Gains Applauded in Evaluation Meet

Bhubaneswar:3/5/25:In a significant step toward strengthening sustainable water resource management, a high-level meeting was held on April 25, 2025, under the chairpersonship of Ms. Anu Garg, Development Commissioner-cum-Additional Chief Secretary, Water Resources Department, Government of Odisha. The meeting was convened to share the findings of an independent evaluation study on the Command Area Development and Water Management (CAD&WM) and Reconstruction of Field Channels (RCOFC) schemes. Senior officials from Water Resources, Finance, and other key stakeholders attended the meeting.

The study assessed the progress made during the period 2021–22 to 2023–24, across six sample divisions covering both new and reconstructed field channel works. The results highlighted Odisha’s notable achievements in improving irrigation efficiency, farmer participation, and agricultural productivity through targeted interventions in 59 major, medium, and minor irrigation commands. Key findings revealed a significant increase in irrigated land from 44% to 89%, reflecting a 102% rise in irrigation potential utilized (IPU); doubling of average household-level irrigated land from 0.9 acres to 1.8 Acre; average paddy yields increasing by 18% with income rising by 84%, etc.

The study further noted positive impacts on cropping intensity, farmer engagement through Pani Panchayats, and socio-economic upliftment, while also recommending enhancements in field channel construction standards, maintenance protocols, and water governance reforms. Ms Garg lauded the progress and reaffirmed the State’s commitment to inclusive, technologydriven, and farmer-centric irrigation reform. She emphasized the need for timely execution, robust monitoring, and convergence with digital platforms.