NEWSLETTER January-June, 2015

Abstract

Rainwater in Farm Ponds Many farmers completed their sowings with good rains received during June 2015. In the event of monsoon breaks, supplemental irrigation is possible if farm pond harvested water is available with normal and excess rainfall received so far. One pond per farm is an emerging requirement now in the changing climatic scenario as rainfall is showing wide variability. Many regions are experiencing drought and fl ood in the same season and the answer lies in harvesting the surplus and using during stress period. Farm ponds act as both drought mitigators as well as fl ood moderators. A pond of 1000 m3 is desirable in medium rainfall areas receiving around 750 mm rainfall and can irrigate once 2.0 ha area to a depth 25 mm after accounting the losses of seepage and evaporation. The technology has been perfected involving the lining of the pond, lifting of water and employing of pressurised irrigation system for improving the effi ciency of harvested water. Farm pond is included in Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) by converging on-going programmes which will make agriculture in rainfed areas more resilient to rainfall variability.