Panta Sanjeevani a boon for Seema farmers

Kadiri (Anantapur): Farm pond scheme ‘Panta Sanjeevani’ is proving to be a great boon for the farmers of Rayalaseema and particularly to the farmers of Anantapur district. Under the project, farm ponds are being sanctioned to store water for crops as well as for storage of rain water during rainy season and for recharging of groundwater.

• The farm pond scheme helps in tackling the receding groundwater levels via water harvesting, besides offering water to farming community from nearby borewells
• The project is mainly for small and marginal farmers having land holdings up to five acres
• The ponds provide a breather to groundnut farmers who go through difficult times due to scanty rainfall

The district has semi-arid climate with the average rainfall 381 mm being recorded every year. Anantapur tops the list of districts which are sanctioned the highest number of farm ponds. Farmers in 63 mandals of the district are clamouring for farm ponds which are proving to be a boon for farm operations. In some mandals including Kadiri and Mudigubba, farmers are elated over the water springs emanating from their ponds and filling them to a large extent.

This development in some mandals is encouraging other farmers to take advantage of the grandiose scheme introduced by the State government. District Collector Kona Sasidhar is keen on promoting farm ponds in the district. This measure he believes would turn the district prosperous and help combat drought conditions effectively.

As of now, 807 farm ponds have been dug by the beneficiaries spread over several mandals while 32,099 ponds are in progress and are in various stages of completion. Out of one lakh ponds sanctioned, 95,088 ponds are expected to be dug during 2016-17 financial year.

The demand for the farm ponds in Rayalaseema is huge when compared to coastal region where the water scenario is different. After Anantapur, Chittoor bagged 65,698 farm ponds, Kurnool-62,747 and Kadapa-36,359. Only Vizianagaram was sanctioned the highest with 28,286 farm ponds. These farm ponds are expected to revolutionise water management systems and conservation of rain water. The scheme promotes farming in dry spells and also provides a breather to groundnut farmers who go through difficult times due to scanty rainfall.

Each unit costs Rs 60,000 to Rs 70,000 and the government has earmarked Rs 764.50 crore for Anantapur district alone for digging the ambitious one lakh farm ponds. The volume of water from the natural water springs may differ from area to area but the ponds are expected to facilitate storage of natural spring water as well as rain water during rainy seasons. The water ponds would be like water reservoirs helping farmers to tide over crop irrigation problems for crops that require minimum quantity of water for survival.

DWMA (District Water Management Agency) project director Venkateswara Rao told ‘The Hans India’ that farmers are making a bee line for the farm ponds. The project is mainly for small and marginal farmers having land holdings up to 5 acres of agricultural land. SC, ST and women farmers and physically challenged would get more financial benefits, he added.

The scheme which was grounded in December 2015 is in great demand and already 15,000 farmers have almost completed digging their ponds. By March-end, about 40,000 farmers are expected to utilise the scheme and dig ponds in their farms. The pond size is 10x10 bottom size and top 14x14 with two metres depth. The pond will facilitate storage of 3 tmc ft water. The government expects groundwater to be recharged by the water storage in the ponds.

Anantha Mathsyaraju, a farmer in Kadiri is excited with water spring filling his pond up to 15 ft. He said the water would help irrigate horticulture crops in his 5 acre land. Not only the scheme is a boon to the farmers but also generates employment to agriculture labourers. The scheme if implemented well would transform the rural landscape of the district, he added.