CONTEXT

Ancient irrigation systems are regarded as one of the most effective tools for livelihood generation and rural poverty reduction, particularly in the ecologically disadvantaged zones like the arid and the saline zones. However, the share of irrigation on ancient water harvesting and storage has been found declining over years in India.

OBJECTIVES

The major objective of the study is to assess the status and prospects of ancient irrigation systems (like tanks and khals) in the coastal zone of West Bengal in India. The specific objectives of the study are: (i) to understand the issues and conflicts of tank irrigation management (ii) to assess the importance of tank irrigation for livelihood of farmers (iii) to estimate the willingness to pay for the maintenance of tanks.

METHODS

Primary survey of 440 households under 22 water bodies has been conducted as per the objectives of the study. Focus group discussions with the stakeholders were also conducted to identify the problems in tank irrigation management. Logit regression model has been used to find the impact of irrigation on livelihood choice by the households. Double bounded model has been used to estimate the willingness to pay for the maintenance of tanks.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS

Though the significance of these traditional systems varies across states and regions of India, the evidence from various studies clearly indicate the case for rehabilitation of tanks in India. The results of the study are: (i) the major problems faced by the farmers are that of the distribution channels, culverts, sluice gate, and the non-existence of water user association (WUA), (ii) the farmers with access to ancient irrigation facilities are likely to take agriculture as the livelihood choice than those without access to irrigation facilities, (iii) the estimated willingness to pay (WTP) by the farming households for tank maintenance or better irrigation services depend positively with agricultural profit earned by the households and the family size. However, the WTP is negatively related with the existence of conflict in tank management, having a job card of public work under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNRGS), being poor, the age of the head of the household, and the level of education of the household head.

SIGNIFICANCE

The results of the study will help policy makers to take appropriate strategies in the rehabilitation of ancient irrigation systems for sustainable agricultural development in the coastal saline zones.

中文翻译：

---

印度古代灌溉系统修复的前景——以西孟加拉邦沿海盐碱地为例

语境

古老的灌溉系统被认为是生计和农村减贫最有效的工具之一，特别是在干旱和盐碱地等生态不利地区。然而，在印度，灌溉在古代集水和蓄水方面的份额多年来一直在下降。

目标

该研究的主要目的是评估印度西孟加拉邦沿海地区古代灌溉系统（如水箱和khals ）的现状和前景。该研究的具体目标是：（i）了解水箱灌溉管理的问题和冲突（ii）评估水箱灌溉对农民生计的重要性（iii）估计支付水箱维护费用的意愿。

方法

按照研究目标，对22个水体下的440户家庭进行了初步调查。还与利益相关者进行了焦点小组讨论，以确定水池灌溉管理中的问题。运用Logit回归模型研究灌溉对农户生计选择的影响。双界模型已被用于估计支付坦克维修费用的意愿。

结果和结论

尽管这些传统系统在印度各邦和地区的重要性各不相同，但来自各种研究的证据清楚地表明了印度需要修复坦克。研究结果是：(i) 农民面临的主要问题是配水渠道、涵洞、水闸和不存在用水者协会 (WUA)，(ii) 农民能够获得与没有灌溉设施的人相比，有古老灌溉设施的人更可能以农业为生计选择，(iii) 农户为水箱维护或更好的灌溉服务支付的估计支付意愿 (WTP) 与农户获得的农业利润正相关家庭和家庭规模。然而，WTP 与储罐管理冲突的存在呈负相关，

意义

该研究的结果将帮助决策者采取适当的策略来修复古老的灌溉系统，以促进沿海盐碱地区的可持续农业发展。