Socio-economic analysis of Baroda branch canal of Som Kamla Amba irrigation project, Dungarpur, Rajasthan

Abstract

Irrigation system development results in improvements of farmers' economy, followed by livelihood sustainability, standard of living and social attitude. Present analysis focused on socio-economic status of farming families in the command area of Baroda Branch Canal of Som Kamla Amba Irrigation Project. The study considered survey sampling of 10 per cent beneficiaries in the Baroda branch canal command which consisted 150 farming families having 787 persons in numbers. The socio-economic indicators viz., the family structures, employment pattern, education status, livestock ownership, farm asset distribution, cost of cultivation, and cost of returns were analysed. Results indicated that education and living standards are of farmers was low which may be one of the reasons for not adoption of newly farming technologies. Cost of cultivation per hectare for wheat, barley, gram, and mustard crops were found as Rs. 28,503.00, Rs. 26,727.00, Rs. 21,184.00 and Rs. 21,697.00, respectively and net benefits per hectare obtained from these crops were Rs. 13,297, Rs. 13,023, Rs. 14,416 and Rs. 18,303, respectively. The pattern of ownership of livestock showed that the average number of cows in the command area was about 1.97 per family. The productivity in the area is average due to low inputs use.

Keywords

• Baroda Branch Canal
• Command area
• Irrigation
• Irrigation efficiency
• Som Kamla Amba Irrigation Project