IMPACT OF WATER MANAGEMENT ON PRODUCTION OF RICE IN BALIPATNA COMMAND AREA OF ORISSA, INDIA

Abstract

In order to know the impact of improved water management practices a study was conducted at Balipatna block under canal irrigation command to know the economic feasibility of water management through field channels. Data from 30 farmers practicing irrigation through field channels and 30 farmers who are irrigating fields without field channels were collected with help of specially designed questionnaire. In order to know the impact of field channels, a multiple stepwise regression analysis with dummy variable to catch impact of field channels was done. The results indicated that irrigation through field channels had positive impact on the yield of kharif paddy. The variables like application of fertilizers, irrigation cost, seed and labour cost had significant positive impact on the paddy yields. The marginal productivity of inputs indicated fertilizers and seeds are not efficiently utilized compared other inputs. Hence, extension should be under taken to improve application of fertilizer in a more scientific way and encourage the use of yielding varieties to improve yields of paddy