Abstract

Irrigation tanks are one of the major water and common property resources in Southern Peninsular India. Declination of irrigation tanks threatens the agriculture productivity and water availability in the South and Southeast Asia especially in southern Peninsular India and Sri Lanka. The storage capacity of the tank has been decreased due to the factors such as siltation of supply channels, tank bed and irrigation courses. In order to reduce the factors causing decrease in storage capacity, desilting of tank has been chosen as rehabilitation work. Desilting of tank beds and supply channels may yield the expected benefit of crop productivity and farmer income. The study has evaluated the benefits and financial structure of the desilting of irrigation tanks project in the villages Ponpadi, district Thiruvallur in Tamil Nadu where a project under Public Welfare Department in Tamilnadu. Productivity indicator of yield has increased due to restoration and is from 4800 to 5400 in first season and 4425 to 5400 in second season. Profitability indicator of benefit cost ratio is increased from 0.64 to 1.04 in first season and from 1.13 to 1.31 in second season. The restoration project aims to bring about increase in agricultural production through improving groundwater recharge and consequently to improve the economic, social and environmental wellbeing of the rural population.

Key words: Tank irrigation, agriculture, crop productivity, desiltation, irrigation tanks.