Bhubaneswar: The Department of Water Resources has signed two memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Indian Council of Agricultural Research Indian-Institute of Water Management (ICAR- IIWM), Bhubaneswar and the Xavier Institute of Management, Bhubaneswar (XIMB) to enhance irrigation facility in the State.
The MoUs were signed here on Tuesday in the presence of Development Commissioner-cum-Additional Chief Secretary, Department of Water Resources Anu Garg at the Rajiv Bhawan.
Suresh Kumar Vashishth, Principal Secretary, Fisheries & Animal Resources Development; Director of Agriculture and Food Production, Prem Chandra Choudhary, Principal Scientist, ICAR-IIWM, Bhubaneswar Rabindra Kumar Panda and, the Vice Chancellor, XIMB, Uvari Antony R were present on the occasion.
The first MoU signed between the Director, Command Area Development and Participatory Irrigation Management (CAD-PIM) and the Director, ICAR-IIWM was on “Pilot Field Demonstration of Digital Water Measuring and Soil Moisture Sensing Systems for Enhancing Agricultural Water Productivity of Canal Commands”.
The project is on demonstration and performance evaluation of the IoT enabled digital water measuring and soil moisture sensing system developed at the ICAR-IIWM for irrigation scheduling in the at Harianta Distributary of Kakatpur- Puri Main Canal in Usumavillage near Phulnakhara in Cuttack district.
The collaboration will help build the capacity of the Pani Panchayats on the use of digital devices in adopting automated control of irrigation, initiating efficient use of water, promoting crop diversification in canal commands etc.
The second one, signed between the Project Director, Odisha Integrated Irrigation Project for Climate Resilient Agriculture (OIIPCRA)and the Vice-Chancellor, XIMB, is for Training of Trainers (ToT) followed by handholding for training of the office bearers of the Pani Panchayats in a cascading mode. Besides, it will conduct pre and post Training Need Assessment of the Master Trainers; conduct output and outcome analysis etc.
Smt.Garg also reviewed the sustainable irrigation projects of Ganjam, Mayurbhanj, Kendujhar and Kalahandi districts. Collectors of the districts who joined in the meeting in virtual mode, highlighted the overall success in implementation of these projects.
The DC focused on how farmers can increase the productivity of water; increase crop diversification and sustainable agriculture with the collective efforts of Agriculture, Horticulture, Fisheries and ARD departments in a convergence mode along with inputs from academicians .
It was discussed that the MIPs developed through OIIPCRA, which are attracting the public to visit agricultural practices and giving unique experience of recreation and learning, these projects should be encouraged for agri-tourism and also water-based activities to aqua-tourism.