| 4. In which ways is the initiative creative and innovative?
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I. To make the Subsidy Disbursement System transparent, simple and fast:
Standardization of procedure:
The Micro Irrigation operational procedures are standardized and made known to all stakeholders to avoid documentation query and also to reduce total time taken for processing of application.
All documents are collected by Micro Irrigation System (MIS) Suppliers from the doorstep of farmer.
Fast Decision Making Process & Participatory Approach:
GGRC as an autonomous organization have full control over decision making for implementation of MIS Scheme.
As a participatory approach to take decision, all stake holders of the Scheme are consulted while taking decision related to Micro Irrigation Scheme.
Transparency & flexibility of MI Scheme:
The implementation System is transparent and information is accessible to all stake holders and public through GGRC website. Flexibility has been given to farmer to select MIS supplier of his/her choice and design the system as per his requirement. No cash transactions (only electronic /cheques/ Demand Drafts) are carried out at any stage of the application processing.
Use of IT in implementation of MI Scheme.
The entire processing of MIS application has been carried out through dedicated software module developed in-house. The software module is with required check and balances takes care of precise processing of MIS Applications, monitoring and verification of installation of MIS System on farmer’s field, disbursement of subsidy, accounting and Management Information System.
All the required information is made available on the website with URL www.ggrc.co.in with facility for online tracking of farmer’s application.
II. To ensure quality of MIS Components:
To ensure the quality of MIS Components, two stage quality checks are kept, once at the manufacturing site of MIS suppliers by Technical Agencies such as Central Institute of Plastics Engineering and Technology and Gujarat Industrial Research & Development Agency and second time at the field of farmers after supply of MI Components by MIS Suppliers thorough competent Third Party Inspection Agencies.
III. For scaling up – Strategic approach to new potential areas:
To increase the existing scope of Micro Irrigation project, parent Micro Irrigation Scheme is converged with other Departmental Scheme or major irrigation projects.
IV. For Promotion of MIS:
To increase awareness among farmers following promotional activities are carried out on a regular/need basis.
a) Farmers Awareness training at GGRC and meetings in field
b) Press Advertisement
c) Tableau Campaign
d) Participation in Fair, Exhibitions and Annual Krishi Mahotsav.
e) Wall ,Tractor trolley & Pick-up Stand painting, hoarding display
f) Use of Audio Visual media- advertisement on TV, radio Jingle, participation in talk show on agriculture programe of Door Darshan.
g) Distribution of literature, leaflets, calendars.
h) Publication of bi-monthly “Jal Jivan” magazine for awareness & education to avail best use of MIS in various crops.
i) Setting of MIS demonstration plots.
V. Capacity Building of Stake Holders:
i. One month Tribal Youth Training program is conducted and wherein tribal youths are given training on MIS.
ii. As an innovative initiative, with a view to create the MIS trainers who ultimately train the farmers regarding MIS, Trainers Training Program (TOT) has been regularly conducted. For the training program specific course curriculum and books are published and provided to the trainees.
iii. Various District Level Training & Workshop are being organized for Village level worker, Gram Sevak & other officers of District Administrations.
iv. Agronomical services with MIS maintenance training are compulsorily provided to beneficiary farmers by MIS suppliers.
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| 5. Who implemented the initiative and what is the size of the population affected by this initiative?
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The major stake holders in the scheme are Government, GGRC, MIS Supplier and Beneficiary Farmer.
Role of Government:
GGRC has been appointed by Govt. of Gujarat and recognized by Government of India to implement Micro Irrigation Scheme in the State of Gujarat.
Government provides subsidy funds / grant to GGRC, which is to be provided to beneficiaries as per the norm of the MI Scheme.
Govt. also takes timely review of the progress of physical and financial targets.
Role of GGRC:
Plays vital role of coordinating all stake holders of the MI Scheme as an Implementing Agency.
Ensures timely and precise disbursement of subsidy to the beneficiary farmers.
Ensures transfer of asset (MI System) to the farmers.
Ensures timely delivery of services to farmers.
Quick redressal of complaint from farmers.
Continuous promotion of MI Scheme in the State.
Capacity building of the Stake holders.
Role of MIS Supplier:
To promote MIS among the farming community by educating the farmer about the benefits of micro irrigation and motivate them to adopt MIS.
To prepare cost-estimate and design of MI System selected by farmer as per the norms of the MI Scheme.
To ensure supply of quality components and installation of MI System.
To Provide agronomic and after sales services to farmers on regular interval.
Role of farmer:
Farmer has to fully understand the benefits of MIS before adopting it.
Submission of genuine relevant documents along with MIS application.
To maintain and use the MI System at least for a period of five years.
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| 6. How was the strategy implemented and what resources were mobilized?
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During the inception of the Micro Irrigation Scheme implementation by Gujarat Green Revolution Company Limited during the May-2005; initially Gujarat State Fertilizers and Chemicals Ltd. (GSFC) had provided financial assistance as a loan for the establishment of offices and to meet the other expenditures. At block / taluka level, help from approximately 200 farm information cum fertilizer depots of GSFC and Gujarat Narmada Valley Fertilizers Company Limited (GNFC) is taken for promoting / executing / monitoring the Micro Irrigation Scheme in the State. The total Manpower strength of GGRC as on October-2014 is 112 which includes 97 on Company Payroll, 5 on consultant category, 09 from on deputation from GSFC and one on deputation from the Government of Gujarat.
Since inception of the Micro Irrigation Scheme under the present modality by GGRC, the Government of Gujarat and the Government of India provides grants to GGRC to be provided to the beneficiary farmers as a financial assistance (subsidy).
Since inception till September-2014, a total of Rs. 2654.02 crore (10 million = 1 crore) grant have been provided by the Governments out of which Rs. 1748.08 has been provided by the State Government and Rs. 905.94 crore has been provided by the Central Government.
Initially, an administrative charge @5% and later @ 3% of the Micro Irrigation System Cost were provided as an administrative charge to GGRC on Micro Irrigation case to case basis till Nov-2010. GGRC received the administrative charges @ 1% of the total outlay from the Central Government to meet the expenses for implementing the Micro Irrigation Scheme.
Unique model which ensures effective implementation of the Government Scheme at very low cost by adopting state of art information technology to process the MIS Applications.
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| 7. Who were the stakeholders involved in the design of the initiative and in its implementation?
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i. Impact on area coverage under Micro Irrigation after formation of GGRC
Before formation of GGRC, various Departments of Govt. of Gujarat combined together had achieved 2,25,900 hectares in a time span of 14 years starting from 1991 till 2005 (The average per year area covered under the MIS was 16,000 hectares).
Coverage of area under Micro Irrigation since May 2005 up to till March 2014:
In the time span of nine years since inception in 2005, GGRC has covered 9,05,370 hectare of area under MIS benefiting 5,61,931 numbers of farmers. The ratio of adoption between Drip to Sprinkler is 48:52. During nine years, GGRC has achieved Average Annual Growth Rate of 38% per annum for area coverage under MIS. Till financial year 2013-14, the numbers of small farmers are 1,74,534 & marginal farmers are 49,946, which is in total of 38% of total beneficiaries. The MIS is adopted in more than 100 crops by the farmers. The major crops under the MIS are Cotton, Groundnut, Sugarcane, Potato, vegetables and orchard crops across the State.
After the implementation of the Micro Irrigation Scheme by GGRC, the State of Gujarat has registered the highest Agricultural growth among all other State of India during the past decade with a CAGR of 10.97 per cent between 2001 to 2009.
Farmers have realized the importance of the Micro Irrigation System and conservation of the scarce natural resources viz. water, energy, fertilizers etc. Farmers are effectively utilizing the Micro Irrigation and reaping its benefits. By using Micro Irrigation System there are able to do sustainable agriculture.
Additional Income to Farmer due to Adoption of Micro Irrigation:
Considering the area covered under micro irrigation during the period 2005-06 to 2013 -14; with an average increase in their income by Rs. 17000/- per hectares as per the findings of the AFC India Ltd.; now onwards there will be increase of annual income of Rs.4741 crore among the farmers adopted MIS which will add to the total GDP of the Nation. (Considering 100% MI System is in use by the farmers who have adopted MIS within last 5 years, and 60% is in use by the farmers who have adopted MI System before 5 years back).
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| 8. What were the most successful outputs and why was the initiative effective?
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To monitor and review the progress in the implementation of the Micro Irrigation Scheme at State level the Cabinet Sub Committee has been established comprising of the Cabinet level Ministers.
At GGRC, review meeting on monthly basis is carried out with Micro Irrigation System Suppliers to monitor their progress viz-a-vie their commitment on the physical targets to be achieved.
The processing of the Micro Irrigation System application is online through dedicated software module established by GGRC. All the Micro Irrigation System Supplier compulsorily have to get their user ID and password to enter the requisite details viz. name of the farmer, his land survey number, water source details, the crop which he/she wants to grow using Micro Irrigation System, crop geometry, area to be covered under the Micro Irrigation System, type of Micro Irrigation System farmer wish to adopt etc.
By entering the details of the farmers online, with an effective IT mechanism, the duplication of subsidy disbursement can be prevented. The processing of MIS applications, management of grants, receipts and disbursements have been integrated into a Business Module, which facilitates complete access of information to the participating stakeholders in the MI Scheme as well as public.
To ensure the quality of MIS Components, two stage quality checks are kept, once at the manufacturing site of MIS suppliers by Technical Agencies such as Central Institute of Plastics Engineering and Technology and Gujarat Industrial Research & Development Agency and second time at the field of farmers after supply of MI Components by MIS Suppliers thorough competent Third Party Inspection Agencies.
Third party Inspection Agency in field verifies the quality as per the set norms and quantity of material supplied as per the MIS quotation submitted & approved at GGRC and installation is done as per the approved design. The agency also takes successful trial run of MI system to ensure that system is running as per the set parameters. The third party also captures geo-tagged photographs of the installation site and applicant farmer online through mobile application and transmits to GGRC server for monitoring purpose.
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| 9. What were the main obstacles encountered and how were they overcome?
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During the inception of the implementation by GGRC, the major hurdle observed were unawareness of the Micro Irrigation System, farmers intends to avail Micro Irrigation System free of cost by over estimating the total cost and sellout the same after inspection of the System by the competent authorities and release of subsidy. Before starting implementing the Micro Irrigation Scheme under present modality i.e. by GGRC, farmers were getting subsidy ranging from 66% to 90% of the total unit cost, which was reduced and made uniform by the Government to 50% of the unit cost after implementation by GGRC. After availing subsidy up to 90% before formation of GGRC, due to almost nil share from the beneficiary farmers, they used to either sellout the entire system or use it for other purpose e.g. fencing etc.
During the initial year, with the above mindsets, farmers intended to avail the subsidy benefits only without realizing the efficient utilization of the Micro Irrigation System. GGRC during the initial year, organized various promotional meetings viz., Agricultural Fairs, Live Demonstrations, Farmers Meetings at village / taluka and district level, night meetings, TV and radio advertisements, participation in all major Government programmes to create awareness among farmers for Micro Irrigation System.
After creating sufficient awareness among farmer, the farmers were coming forward to adopt the Micro Irrigation System but still they were not using the Micro Irrigation System efficiently. Capacity building programmes were being conducted on regular basis for the farmers for the efficient use of the technology and Agronomical Advisory Services which includes irrigation scheduling, fertigation scheduling, advisory on pest and disease control etc. is made mandatory on the part of the Micro Irrigation System Suppliers so as to do transfer of technology.
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