ICAR-Indian Institute of Water Management (IIWM) celebrated the 34th World Water Day (WWD) at the canal automation site at DarpanarayanPur Minor Irrigation Project (MIP) in Nayagarh district of Odisha on 22nd March 2026. While inaugurating the canal automation system, the Chief Guest Hon’ble Speaker of Odisha Legislative Assembly, Smt. Surama Padhy mentioned that canal automation will save appreciable quantity of water which can be used for enhancing cropping intensity, uniform distribution of water in different reaches of the command and coverage of more cropped area during the rabi season. Such technologies will assist in judicious use of water for enhancing agricultural water productivity. Smt. Madhumita Rath, Collector and District Magistrate of Nayagarh district, Odisha graced the programme as Guest of honour and highlighted the significance of world water day with mention about the theme “water and Gender” and also the slogan “where water flows the equality grows”. Smt Rath also focused on use of IoT and integrated sensing systems for supply of irrigation water to farm land besides replication of these technologies in different commands of the Country. Er. P.C. Rath, Chief Engineer, Department of Water Resource, Govt. of Odisha was the Guest of Honour and in his address he emphasized that it is the first of its kind in the State of Odisha implemented in a minor irrigation command. Earlier Dr. A. Sarangi, Director of ICAR-IIWM welcomed all guests and briefed about canal automation project. Dr Sarangi mention that the Canal Automation System installed in the MIP is a successful collaborative model with involvement of ICAR-IIWM, Department of Water Resources, Govt. of Odisha and Engineers and staff of MIP, Sukrabehera Memorial Water User Association, DarpanarayanPur with hardware and software partner Mechatronics Systems Pvt. Limited, Pune besides involvement of the scientists under Agri.-Consortia Research Project (CRP) on Water Scheme of ICAR. Dr Sarangi also mentioned that the automation system in the MIP would ensure crop water demand based supply of irrigation water to enhance agricultural water productivity, bring more area under production of rabi crop due to stored water in the reservoir and assist in crop diversification and enhanced farm income. Dr. S.K. Jena, Pr. Scientist and Coordinator of AgriCRP-Water also highlighted the significance of canal automation for enhancing agricultural water productivity. Eight publications including the bulletins and leaflets on the canal automation were released by the guests and distributed to participants. The progressive farmers and beneficiaries of three villages under the MIP were also felicitated by the Chief Guest for their significant contribution in farming and enhancing agricultural water productivity. Dr. R.K. Panda, Pr. Scientist and Principal Investigator of the project proposed a vote of thanks. The event was attended by about 700 participants including scientists, technical staff, water resources department officials, media personnel besides farmers and beneficiaries of MI command. The WWD-2026 was also celebrated at two more locations in climate resilient villages developed under the RKVY Project at Badamba-Narsinghpur of Cuttack district in Odisha. In the first meeting at Naranpur village about 180 farm women participated and deliberated their roles in agricultural water management signifying the theme “water and gender”. In another meeting at Haritha-Manpur village, which is popular for vegetable cultivation, more than 150 farmers attended and shared the knowledge on water management for vegetable production. Dr D.K. Panda, Principal Scientist, ICAR-IIWM and PI of the RKVY project organized these events in two villages.
