Two Memorandum of  Understanding signed in Department of Water Resources    

• MoU with ICAR- IIWM will help in enhancing Agricultural Water Productivity of Canal Commands

• Letter of intent with XIMB will support handholding for training of Trainers and the office bearers of Pani Panchayats in a cascading mode.

• DC-cum-ACS, DoWR reviews Sustainable Irrigation Projects under OIIPCRA

22^th November 2024, (Odisha Tazanews) Bhubaneswar :-> Two Memorandum of understanding (MoU) have been signed by the Department of Water Resources with the Indian Council of Agricultural Research Indian-Institute of Water Management (ICAR- IIWM), Bhubaneswar and the Xavier Institute of Management, Bhubaneswar (XIMB) in the presence of Smt. Anu Garg, IAS, Development Commissioner-cum-Additional Chief Secretary, Department of Water Resources in the Rajiv Bhawan on 19^th Nov, 2024, Tuesday.  

Shri Suresh Kumar Vashishth, IAS, Principal Secretary to Govt., Fisheries & Animal Resources Development; Director of Agriculture and Food Production, Odisha  Shri Prem Chandra Choudhary, Dr Rabindra Kumar Panda, Principal Scientist, ICAR-IIWM, Bhubaneswar and Uvari Antony R., the Vice Chancellor, XIMB were present on the occasion. Besides, other Directors and senior officers of the Departments of Water Resources; Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment and Fisheries & Animal Resources Development 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 Usuma village near Phulnakhara, Cuttack, Odisha. The collaboration will help build the capacity of the Pani Panchayats on the use of digital devices in adopting automated control of irrigation, initiating to 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.

DC-cum-ACS Smt. Garg also reviewed the Sustainable Irrigation Projects of   Ganjam, Mayurbhanj, Kendujhar and Kalahandi District. Collectors of the districts who joined in the meeting in virtual mode, highlighted about the overall success in implementation of these projects. Citing example of different MIPs   developed under the programme, they explained how the farmers are benefiting out of these projects.

The DC-cum-AC, DoWR 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  alongwith 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.