The Agricultural Engineering Department (AED), among others, is engaged in the Conservation, Development and Management of the agricultural land and water resources of the State. "Watershed Management" and "Water Management " are the two major strategies of the department in contributing to the sustainable increase in agricultural production. This department implements a number of State, Centrally sponsored and Externally aided schemes / projects with the following objectives:

Over the years the area under well irrigation is increasing, resulting in increased ground water exploitation. The increased exploitation of ground water in many areas of the State has resulted in lowering of water table below the economic pumping level. Mining of ground water has occurred due to sinking of bore wells up to 1000 feet in certain areas. The ground water potential has been exploited to such an extent that special methods of rainwater harvesting and ground water recharge are warranted to save the well irrigated areas.

Government have provided resilience to the drought affected agriculture by promoting rain water harvesting. They have sanctioned the construction of farm ponds and rejuvenation of failed / unused / abandoned wells. A total of 8833 farm ponds were constructed at a total cost of Rs. 2564.29 lakhs in 2003-04.

Rain water harvesting will be given further importance and will be continued in 2004-2005 under all the Soil and Water Conservation / Watershed Development Programmes.

The Government has approved the proposal for the rejuvenation of 50000 failed / unused / abandoned wells in various districts of Tamil Nadu at a cost of Rs.100 crores under SGRY (FFW) Programme. Under Phase I, the Government decided to implement the scheme for rejuvenating 5000 failed / unused / abandoned wells and sanctioned a sum of Rs.10.00 crores (Rs.2.5 crores as cash and Rs.7.5 crores as rice) under SGRY (Food for Work Programme). In the end all the 1,59,000 failed, / unused / abandoned wells will be rejuvenated. During 2003-2004, 2093 wells have been rejuvenated at a cost of Rs.264.37 lakhs.

Deep tillage improves the capacity of the soil to absorb more rainwater and retain it for a longer period. It also improves the tilth and aeration and provides a conducive atmosphere for root development. The technology will be extensively propagated through demonstrations.

The objective of the scheme is to improve the economic status of the tribal farmers so as to lift them above the poverty line. By conserving the soil, improving the water holding capacity and improving the land use, the land productivity is proposed to be increased.

Integrated development of tribal areas has been taken up under a multi sector approach in Jawadhu hills (Vellore and Tiruvannamalai district), Kalrayan hills (Salem and Villupuram districts) Shevaroy hills (Salem district), Sitheri hills (Dharmapuri district), Kolli hills (Namakkal district) and Pachamalai (Trichy district).

Land Levelling, construction of contour rubble bunds with vegetative hedges and checkdams are taken up in tribal areas at Government cost. These programmes provide employment to the local people and also help them to bring the treated areas under cultivation. During 2003-2004, an area of 715 hectares was treated at a cost of Rs.92.90 lakhs. During 2004-2005, an area of 631 hectares is proposed to be treated under this scheme.

Sedimentation of reservoirs is a serious problem posing a threat to the life of the reservoir, its storage capacity, the command area and generation of power. Sedimentation is caused due to soil erosion and improper land use in the catchment areas. With a view to reduce siltation of the reservoirs, various soil conservation measures are being taken up in Vaigai and South Pennaiyar catchments. The works are taken up on watershed basis in the priority watersheds identified by the All India Soil and Land Use Survey Organisation (AISLUS) depending upon the rainfall, nature of erosion, soil texture, slope and topography of the area. During 2003-2004, the programme is implemented at a cost of Rs.614.19 lakhs covering 3812 hectares under Vaigai Catchment in Theni district and South Pennaiyar Catchment in Dharmapuri district. During 2004-2005, it is programmed to cover 6480 hectares under South Pennaiyar Catchment in Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri districts at a cost of Rs.700 lakhs.

Soil Conservation is one of the important aspects under Western Ghats Development Programme. The works are taken up in the Western Ghats Region covering the districts of Coimbatore, Erode, Dindigul, Theni, Virudhunagar, Tirunelveli, and Kanyakumari. During 2003-2004, Soil Conservation in 2121 hectares was taken up at a cost of Rs. 374.61 lakhs in eight districts. During 2004-2005, an area of 2986 ha. is proposed to be covered at a cost of Rs.374.36 lakhs in eight districts.

The Nilgiris district has been delineated into 75 watersheds and among these watersheds, highly priority watersheds are taken up for treatment. Besides, soil conservation works, landslide preventive measures etc., have been taken up. Under this scheme, 100% grant is provided for soil conservation measures. However, beneficiaries are required to contribute at the rate of 10% for individual works and 5% for community works. In the case of SC/ST communities, the contribution required is 5%. The landslide treatment measures are however, executed under 100% grant. During the year 2003-04, soil conservation and landslide preventive measures have been taken up at a cost of Rs.295.48 lakhs. During the year 2004-2005, it is programmed to take up these works at a total cost of Rs.357.51 lakhs treating 605 hec. of lands.

It is proposed to use Coir Geo Textiles with Vegetative cover to arrest landslides by working with nature rather than against nature as in conventional cement mortar structures.

The Coastal areas of Nagapattinam district Tamil Nadu consists of sand dunes and sandy belt with fresh water overlying saline ground water. Sea water intrusion is noticed in the Vedaranyam canal. The Coastal Zone in between Nagapattinam and Vedaranyam has natural resources, but have problems posed by the sea water intrusion as well as the climatic conditions. This pilot project aims at developing the lands affected by sand dunes, sandy plains with coastal aquifer, the saline belt and the water logged areas in a more scientific way. Opportunities exist to improve the livelihood of the people of this area by improving the agro ecology.

The pilot project comprises of :

The Remote Sensing Centre of the Agricultural Engineering Department provides input for various Watershed Development Programmes and Wasteland Development Programmes. Under Western Ghats Development Programme, the status report for western ghats region are prepared annually on watershed basis depicting the Geology, Geomorphology, Infrastructure, Micro watershed codification and soil erosion for prioritisation of the watershed activities. This centre has been recognized by Anna University as Research Centre in which Ph.D, and M.S programmes of Anna University can be carried out by Department staff on external registration. This centre can also guide research programmes of Anna University.

The State Land Use Board has given a study to prepare Watershed Atlases and Soil Watershed Atlases for all the districts in Tamil Nadu. Such maps have been used to delineate the micro water sheds under NWDPRA and Comprehensive Waste land development projects.

Similarly, a study for the preparation of land use zonation maps on Kurinchi, Mullai, Marutham, Neidal and Palai regions of Salem and Theni districts based on ancient Tamil land use classification using Remote Sensing and Geological Information System has been entrusted to this department.

The Agricultural Engineering Department is engaged in popularising Micro Irrigation systems (Both Drip & Sprinkler) in Tamil Nadu, since the year 1985 - 86. Among the three sources of irrigation namely, canals, tanks and wells, the wells account for 51.70% of the net area irrigated. In order to reduce the stress on well irrigation and also to ensure judicious and economic use of irrigation water, through installation of Micro Irrigation Systems, viz. Drip / Sprinkler Irrigation Systems, an additional allocation of Rs.30.00 crores was made in 2003-2004. The scheme conceived by the State Government supports all the farmers for all the crops and will be continued. The proposal of TNAU to promote Drip Fertigation / Herbigation will be dovetailed to this programme.

In 2003-2004, Drip and Sprinkler Irrigation systems have been installed in an area of 21237 hectares of agriculture lands and an amount of Rs.12.10 Crores has been provided as subsidy.

An allocation of Rs.57 crores have been made under BE 2004-2005 for Micro Irrigation Scheme.

Agricultural Engineering Department provides support to farmers in reclamation of virgin lands and to carry out cultivation operations like ploughing, puddling and harvesting. In order to convert the virgin lands into arable lands, the department has a fleet of 109 Bulldozers, 122 Tractors and four Combine Harvesters for use in the districts all over the State.

Creation of additional irrigation facilities, stabilisation of the area already under irrigation and promotion of conjunctive use of surface water and ground water by harnessing groundwater resources are the objectives of the Tube Wells Scheme. The State of Tamil Nadu has nearly exhausted the surface water sources and there is increasingly more dependence on ground water. Therefore, sinking of new tubewells and revitalisation of dried up wells are taken up under this programme. Under this scheme, the Resistivity meters and Electrical loggers are provided to farmers for locating well sites and aquifers. Drilling Rigs, Mini Drills, Hand Boring Sets, Rock Blasting Units, Long Hole Equipment and Air Compressors are also provided to farmers on hire basis to take up these activities. The Department maintains a fleet of minor irrigation machinery of different types. During 2003 – 04, 4976 tube wells were sunk. The programme will be continued during 2004-2005 to provide 4000 tube wells in areas where there is groundwater potential.

The Command Area Development Programme is implemented by the Agricultural Engineering Department as a centrally sponsored and equally shared programme on 50: 50 basis between the State Government and Government of India. At present, the programme is implemented in Cauvery Command, Parambikulam Aliyar Project, Tambirabarani River Basin Project, Palar-Poranthalar Project, Krishnagiri Reservoir Project and Thoppaiyar Project. The programme has been completed in Lower Bhavani Project, Cumbum Valley Project, Periyar - Vaigai Project, Sathanur Reservoir Project, Amaravathy Reservoir Project and Kothayar-Chittar projects. The remaining projects will be covered as per the schedule approved by the Government of India.

The three major components of Command Area Development Programme are as follows:

On Farm Development
Rotational Water Supply.
Participatory Irrigation Management

Besides, laying of field drains, reclamation of waterlogged areas and saline and alkaline affected soils are also taken up.

On farm development is done by considering the needs of the head reach farmers so that their interference is eliminated and the tail end farmers also get adequate irrigation water. This brings in equity in distribution of water to all the farmers in the entire sluice command. This has been achieved by using optimum flow concept. The unit cost is Rs.6000/- per ha. in all New Project areas including Cauvery Command. For old ayacut of Cauvery Command the unit cost of on farm development works is Rs.2650/- per ha.

An area of 9.87 lakh ha. has been covered till 31.3.2004 out of total cultivable command area of 10.97 lakh hectares with On Farm development works in 12 command areas.

During 2004-2005, 34150 Hec. under On Farm Development and 78150 Hec. under Rotational Water Supply are planned to be covered at a cost of Rs.5077.87 lakhs.

To implement On Farm Development Programmes and for ensuing equity in distribution of water, farmers participation is important. Agricultural Engineering Department is intensively encouraging itself in this work for the last 20 years. The task of handing over the responsibilities to the farmers is being implemented. In orders to ensure farmers participation, farmers associations are formed on a three tier basis as follows.

In order to sustain the farmers associations/ councils already formed for the maintenance of the on-farm infrastructures created and to continue RWS (Warabandhi) for equitable water distribution, financial assistance is provided in the form of one time functional grant to registered Farmers’ Councils at Rs.450.00 per hectare shared equally by the Central and the State Governments. To avail this, farmers have to contribute Rs.50.00 per hectare.

Irrigated Agriculture Intensification Programme has been approved by the Empowered Committee of Water Resources Consolidation Project with World Bank aid. This is an innovative and integrated approach launched in Hanumanadhi Basin of Tirunelveli district. An area of 149 hectares is programmed to be covered at a total cost of Rs.1.50 crores. The pilot project will demonstrate water saving technologies coupled with high tech farming practices that will help to increase productivity, quality of the produce and income of individual farm holdings.

As a result of the success of the Pilot Project, a Model Rehabilitation Project in Hanumanadhi Sub basin at a cost of Rs. 2255 lakhs is proposed to demonstrate Modern Agricultural Practices through demonstration and training of farmers and this will be completed during the current year.

The total command area of Hanumanadhi sub basin is 3382.64 hectares which is fed by 14 anicuts and it consists of 50 tanks. An area of 3,000 ha. of the ayacut of all tanks under Hanumanadhi sub basin is proposed for taking up the Model Rehabilitation Project.

The efficiency of the electric pump sets can be increased by:

1. Replacing the old pump sets with new energy efficient ISI certified latest technology pump sets.

2. Providing proper electric accessories, mains, earths etc

3. Providing facility for ground water recharging by taking up Rain Water Harvesting measures around the well.

4. Decreasing the power consumption by reducing the pumping hours by providing Micro Irrigation facility, which allows drawl of less water from the wells.

5. Ensuring economy in using ground water by 30%.

6. Increasing the farm yield by the use of micro irrigation and fertigation cum herbigation so that the farmer will have higher income.

7. Revised cropping pattern by promoting integrated farming to increase the income of farmers. Reduced energy, water, pesticide and fertiliser consumption will also increase profitability of farmers.

It was therefore proposed to cover the dark and grey blocks of the state with this energy efficiency programme for electric farm pump sets based on the study conducted by Tamilnadu Agricultural University and Tamil Nadu Electricity Board.

During 2003-04, a pilot project have been taken up in three transformer areas in Theni, Coimbatore and Villupuram districts to study the effect on the consumption of energy and a total of 34 pumpsets have been energised so for at a cost of Rs.11.12 lakhs under this programme.

During 2004-05, it is proposed to energise 10,000 pumpsets at a cost of Rs.61 crores.