One Farmers’ Training-cum-capacity building programme was conducted under the CADWM funded research project titled “Pilot field demonstration of digital water measuring and soil moisture sensing systems for enhancing agricultural water productivity of Canal Commands” at Usuma village, Phulnakhara on 18/02/2026. The programme started with the recitation of Vandemataram and ICAR song followed by watering of plant ritual. Executive Engineer Mr. Dillip Pujari, CADA, Ministry of Water Resources, Govt. of Odisha was the Chief guest in this programme. The programme was chaired by Dr. R.K. Panda, Principal Scientist and coordinated by Dr. K.K. Bandyopadhyay, Programme Leader, Canal Water Management and Principal Investigator of the project. Other Co-PIs of this project from IIWM, programme leaders from IIWM and two other engineers from CADA also attended this programme. Mr. Ashok Kumar Das, President of Pallishree Panipanchayat and other members of the Panipanchayat actively participated in this programme. The topics covered under the training programme include (i) Scope of Micro-irrigation in canal commands, (ii) Soil Health Management, (iii) Iot enabled AWD irrigation scheduler, (iv) Iot enabled Soil moisture sensor-based irrigation scheduling, (v) Efficient Canal Water Management through automation, (vi) Scope of crop diversification in rice fallows of the canal command (vii) Conjunctive use of groundwater and canal water in the canal commands, (viii) Capacity building of Water users’ association and demonstration of Bharat Vistaar App (ix) Role of water user association in maintaining the canal for its efficient use and (x) Success story of pilot field demonstration of digital water measuring device and soil moisture sensing systems for enhancing agricultural water productivity of canal commands etc. About 80 number of farmers from Usuma and nearby villages participated in this programme. Different aspects of efficient soil and water management in the canal commands to improve water productivity was discussed by different experts from CADA and ICAR-IIWM viz., Drs. P. Panigrahi, Sanatan Pradhan, D. Sethi, Ajit K. Nayak, P.K. Panda, R.K. Panda, S. Mohanty, S.K. Mishra, Ashok Kumar Nayak, Dillip Pujari and K.K. Bandyopadhyay. Two Technical brochures titled “Piloting of digital water measuring and soil moisture sensing systems for enhancing agricultural water productivity” and “???? ????????? ??? ????????? ????? ?????? ????? ???? ???????? ?? ??? ??? ???????? ???????? ????? ???????? ??????????? ??????” were released and distributed among the trainee farmers. Seven progressive farmers were felicited during the training programme. The programme ended with vote of thanks by Dr. Ashok K. Nayak followed by recitation of the National Anthem. The farmers were highly benefitted by this training programme as per the verbal feedback received from the members of the Pani Panchayat. This programme was also widely covered in the local print media.
