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Facilitated sprinkler irrigation for more then 10,000 farmers in Shekhawati
Way back in 1994-95 there was hardly 10 percent land area that was under irrigation. On enquiry, it was found that though water table is not very deep, and State Electricity Board is also providing electrical connections, though with some deposits and waiting time, the Farmers were not willing to take electrical connections for their bore wells. The hurdle was undulating lands and sandy soils. In this condition there was no way to get them funds for leveling the lands, at it was about Rs 1.00 to Rs 1.50 lakhs per Acre investment.

Once the Morarka Foundation was awarded the Extension Service project by Department Of Agriculture, GOR, covering 10,000 farm families in 25 villages, in Nawalgarh Block of Jhunjhunu Districts, Morarka began with the introduction of many new technologies.

Since it was a very sandy - partial desert area for irrigation, one of the new technologies was "Sprinkler Irrigation System".

It was observed that it was possible to irrigate crops even in undulating lands & sandy soils. The yields were comparable to level lands and the investment on Sprinkler Irrigation System was also at par with leveled lands.

This idea became very popular and very soon every farmer was in a queue to secure electrical connection for their farmlands. This resulted in long waiting periods, up to 4-5 years for electrical connections. But getting an electrical connection was a sure shot way to prosperity.

With many farmlands securing electrical connections, there was another development. To better manage their farmlands, most of the farmers also moved their residences to the farms from the villages. Once living on the farms they began to plant trees, took up vegetable production, initially for their own consumption, but slowly also for commercial production, resulting in extra incomes.

Most of the farms also became integrated farming operations with many milk-yielding animals finding place on the farms. Once again to begin with it was for self-consumption, but subsequently milk converted to ghee became a commercial output.

In about 10 years time the irrigated crop area went up to about 40 percent, with 100 percent irrigation through sprinkler systems.