Published Paper Details:

Irrigation activities have substantially contributed to the massive growth in agricultural production that enables to feed ever growing population. Worldwide irrigated land has increased from 50 million hectares in 1900 to 466 million hectares today. Much of this increase has been in developing countries. For example in 1950 India had an irrigation potential of 22.8 million hectares which has risen to 105 million hectares. However, in many cases, water resources have been overdeveloped. There has been overspending on capital and significant cost in terms of loss of ecosystem, extinction of fish species and contamination of water sources. This has happened due to underestimated or neglect of economical and ecologically viable traditional irrigation technologies which are time tested and location specific. Documentation and validation as well as valuing of traditional irrigation practices may have a pivotal role particularly in fragile mountain ecosystems. The main objective of the study carried out were to examine the traditional irrigation practices used by the farmers in the Ziro valley, the nature of community participation and the changes they are facing. Group discussion among different age groups of the Apatani was held involving both men and women. Special attention was paid to older farmers in order to understand the exact nature of traditional irrigation system and its transition.