Vidarbha Intensive Irrigation Development Programme (VIIDP)

Vidarbha Intensive Irrigation Development Programme (VIIDP) is launched by the government of Maharashtra especially for vidarbha region. Vidarbha region of Maharashtra remained backward industrially as well as agriculturally. 65% of the rural population of vidarbha region are divided in eleven districts namely Akola, Amravati, Bhandara, Buldhana, Chandrapur, Gadchiroli, Gondia, Nagpur, Wardha, Washim, Yavatmal is dependent on agriculture and allied activities. Cotton is the most important cash crop and backbone of the farmers of Yavatmal, Akola, and Amravati, Wardha, Buldhana and Washim districts of western Vidarbha. The Maharashtra government implements Vidarbha Intensive Irrigation Development Programme (VIIDP) to increase the productivity of rainfed cotton farming in Vidarbha region through rainwater harvesting, intensive irrigation, and better crop management. VIIDP aims to bring the maximum cotton growing area under protective irrigation and better soil moisture regime, to restore small-scale irrigation to resources through provision of water lifting devices for filling of storage and to enhance water use efficiency through application of drip and sprinkle irrigation. In Vidarbha region, farmers only dependence on rain for cotton growing can create risk and income uncertainty in cotton farming. To overcome from irrigation problem in Vidarbha region the government can provide special package for Vidarbha Intensive Irrigation Development Programme

Benefits of Vidarbha Intensive Irrigation Development Programme:

To get benefit of intensive irrigation, rainwater harvesting, and better crop management
To increase the productivity of cotton and income for farmers
To increase the moisture in agricultural soil
To use water use efficiency through drip and sprinkler
To provide subsidy for farmers to implement irrigation programme
It also has provision of giving implements by farmers costing Rs 1000 per acre as incentive

Objectives of Vidarbha Intensive Irrigation Development Programme:

To increase productivity of rainfed cotton farming in Vidarbha region through rainwater harvesting, intensive irrigation, and better crop management;
To bring maximum cotton growing area under protective irrigation and better soil moisture regime through in-situ and ex-situ conservation measures;
To restore and renovate existing minor or small-scale irrigation resources through provision of water lifting devices for filling of storage
To enhance water use efficiency through of drip or sprinkle irrigations

Eligibility of Vidarbha Intensive Irrigation Development Programme:

Individual farmer
Group of farmers or growers
Co-operative farmers are eligible
Joint holder farmers in agriculture are also eligible

Pattern of Assistance:

Construction of Farm Ponds including optional provision for plastic lining or plastic cover
Construction of Series of Check Dams or Cement Bandhara
Expansion of Micro Irrigation System and Supply of Water lifting Devices;
Minor Irrigation Projects
Restoration of Minor Irrigation Potential
Lift Irrigation System
Formation of Water Users Associations and Farmer Groups

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