Economic Analysis of Farm Ponds and Water Productivity in Tungabhadra Project Command Area, Karnataka

The farmers at Tungabhadra Project (TBP) command area have constructed farm ponds on their farms for multipurpose uses and thereby have increased water productivity. However, this innovation has posed several concerns such as inequality in distribution of water across different farm-sizes, location of farms, cropping pattern, and seepage leading to degradation of low lying lands. To address these issues, the present study has been carried out in the TBP area with a sample size of 53 farmers having farm ponds and 30 farmers without farm ponds. The study has revealed that farm ponds in the TBP area are constructed mainly for paddy nursery raising (79%), followed by protective irrigation for paddy (77%), drinking water for animals (57%), fish rearing (42%) and drinking water for humanbeings (37%). Cropping intensity has increased by 46 per cent. To total net income, fish rearing has been found to contribute highest share (46%), followed by paddy cultivation (29%), horticultural crops (7.6%) and hybrid jowar (7.4%). All the benefits from farm ponds put together have increased farmers’ net income to 7.6 lakh/pond/year (by 326%) as against 1.76 lakh/farm holding/year for farmers without farm pond. The farm ponds have also generated 30 per cent additional employment. The economic analysis has revealed that construction of these farm ponds is economically viable and financially feasible. The study has suggested to encourage construction of farm ponds as a ‘micro balancing reservoir’ by providing financial assistance to the farmers.