Traditional water conveyance modes, their management and use in Udhampur district of Jammu and Kashmir

Abstract

<span style="font-size:9.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;font-family:" times="" new="" roman";mso-fareast-font-family:"times="" roman";="" mso-bidi-font-family:"times="" roman";mso-ansi-language:en-us;mso-fareast-language:="" en-us;mso-bidi-language:ar-sa"="" lang="EN-US">Water is a scarce resource that needs to be judiciously utilized for whatever purpose especially in agriculture sector. The present study focuses on traditional community managed water conveyance, management and conservation practices in Udhampur district of Jammu and Kashmir which has been followed by the farming communities through locally devised traditionally inherited technology using local material with least use of external inputs. These traditional irrigation channels are locally known as <i>kool</i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">s </i>which contributes in water as well as soil conservation with indigenously developed management practices<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">.</i> Famers in the region since time immemorial have been using this <i>kool</i> system for irrigation and as result of it; they are not only producing major cereals but also off season vegetables which is augmenting their productivity and income. The diversion of water through <i>kool</i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">s</i> has also resulted in the decrease of turbulent flow of water in perennial<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"> nalla</i> which results in the considerable reduction in the loss of top soil, thus contributing significantly to the soil conservation.</span>