Reported by Bhadra Gogoi
Dimapur: Two villages in Nagaland’s Peren district, Jalukiekam and Beisumpuikam, have been selected under the Modernisation of Command Area Development and Water Management (M-CADWM) scheme by the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti to supply irrigation water to agricultural fields through pressurised pipes.
The M-CADWM scheme aims to shift outdated canal-based agricultural irrigation systems to pressurised piped water networks, significantly improving on-farm water-use efficiency.
Addressing an awareness programme on the scheme at the Beisumpuikam Village Council Hall on Thursday, Shubham Pachauri, Deputy Director, Ministry of Jal Shakti, said the current irrigation system faces problems such as leakage in canals, tail-end farmers not receiving water, and a lack of proper accounting of water usage, necessitating change.
He said that under the M-CADWM scheme, water is delivered to every field through pipelines, ensuring timely irrigation, equitable distribution of water, and proper water management.
Pachauri added that the scheme would help farmers by providing opportunities for multi-cropping and increased cultivation throughout the year, which would, in turn, boost crop yields and increase their income.
He also emphasised the importance and benefits of the Water User Society (WUS). Under the WUS, farmers become the owners and managers of the irrigation system after the project’s operation and maintenance period.
Stating that another key focus of the scheme is the participation of women, Pachauri called upon farmers to join the WUS, conserve water, and adopt the new technology, which would help them become more prosperous.
In his inaugural address, Peren Deputy Commissioner Hiazu Meru acknowledged and lauded the Ministry of Jal Shakti for implementing the M-CADWM scheme as a pilot project in Jalukiekam and Beisumpuikam villages.
He urged the participants and farmers to make effective use of the project.