Using Discarded Plastic Bottles for low cost Drip Irrigation by Tribal Farmers from Murshidabad District

                Assured irrigation is one of the biggest challenge in rainfed agriculture and in a state like Bengal with almost 2 Million Ha single cropped rainfed areas,  monsoon failure means a huge drop in production. Majority of the farmers are small and marginal with very limited  source of livelihood as such drop in agriculture production directly hit the local socioeconomy. 

West Bengal Accelerated Development of Minor Irrigation Project( WBADMIP) has targeted to transform 75000 ha of such single cropped rainfed areas into multi cropped irrigated areas through assured irrigation by creating demand driven Minor Irrigation structures (Surface and Ground Water). Since its inception in the year 2012, the project has irrigated 68000 ha so far bringing incremental benefits to more than 100000 farm families represented by over 2000 Water User Associations.

One of the biggest challenge with Surface Water Minor Irrigation scheme is the comparatively low irrigation potential compared to GW schemes due to water loss through evaporation and seepage. As such it becomes more crucial for the Water User Associations to adopt various water conservation methods for availability of water during the dry Rabi season. Drip irrigation is one efficient method in which water is delivered in drops to the soil surface instead of the traditional method of flowing through channel thus enabling the root zone to be wet enough for the plants to uptake for physiological function. However for small and marginal farmers, affording commercial drip irrigation system without public investment is still a big challenge.

 Demonstrating a fine example of adopting innovations and environmental accountability, the tribal farmers from Aruliadanga Water User Association in Murshidabad district are using discarded plastic bottles to transform them into low cost drip system for irrigation. Internet is becoming a powerful medium in the cross border transfer of affordable technologies and the farmers from Aruliadanga spent no time in adopting this low cost eco-friendly technology when they first saw in YouTube. The young saplings in the recently established Mix Fruit Orchard needs regular supply of water  during the initial years for survival. The low cost drip system  has ensured the regular supply of water required without putting much pressure on the Surface Water Scheme( Water Detention Structure) that was created under the project to cater the irrigation requirement for agriculture activities in these rainfed areas.

       Plastic is considered to be one of the biggest toxic pollutants that is adversely affecting our land and rivers. Infact, Plastic has toxic chemicals which can cause several health hazards upon coming in contact with human. In rural areas besides causing water logging, plastic also effects the crop growth by hindering the process of photosynthesis.

                In developing nation like India, solid waste management is more prominent in the urban areas whereas in the  rural areas it is yet to gear up the momentum. Since plastic is non biodegradable, besides reducing its usage, one of the most effective way  to deal with plastic pollution is to reuse and recycle.

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