VOLUMETRIC PRICING OF IRRIGATION WATER IN INDIA: EXPERIENCES AND LESSONS LEARNED

Volumetric method of pricing irrigation water has always been advocated as the better approach to induce water savings by farmers. However, owing to seemingly technical and administrative complexities in adoption of the volumetric method - especially in large public canal irrigation systems, the area based pricing method is widespread in most countries. In India, during the last decade, there has been significant evelopment in adoption of the volumetric supply and pricing through participatory irrigation management. Present paper provides a brief overview of international practices and the present status of irrigation water pricing and participatory irrigation management in India. A case study of volumetric allocation, supply and pricing adopted by a Water User Association (WUA) in the State of Maharashtra has been presented. The experiences and lessons learned from the case study and similar other WUAs have clearly demonstrated that a combination of volumetric supply and pricing at the entry point of a WUA command area and subsequent distribution and recovery on crop-areaseason basis by the WUA can become successful. Although, the much perceived objective of achieving water savings due to the volumetric pricing was not directly realized, there prevails a win-win situation both to the government department staff and WUAs /farmers. For irrigation staff, this approach has minimized the efforts in area measurement and vigilance on the area irrigated by farmers, and billing of irrigation charges has become simpler. From farmers’ side, as there is a full freedom of cropping pattern and the volumetric water charging system being transparent, they are willing to pay higher rates and use the available water efficiently by irrigating more area with same amount of water. Nevertheless, there is a vast scope to refine /upgrade the present system, especially in respect of increasing the accuracy and reliability of flow measurement. The concept of volumetric supply can gradually be introduced at individual farmer’s level by roping in available technology and farmers’ involvement. There is a particular need to strengthen the role of WUAs to equip them for the enhanced responsibilities which calls for a major capacity building exercise.