• An irri-agro informatics database of the Western Yamuna Canal (WYC) command (Fig.1) was updated and used for identification and delineation of the area of low productivity in the command using a GIS methodology. The area affected is 981 sq km, which is 7.24% of the command.

Fig.1. Updated canal database and district-wise area of low productivity in the WYC command

• Two intensive study areas within the low productivity areas - Jawahar Lal Nehru sub-branch and Butana canal branch were selected and the crop production constraints were identified in irrigated saline environment. Poor irrigation scheduling practices and inadequate conjunctive use of multi quality irrigation waters were the main constraints.

• BPM based technologies for enhancing productivity were demonstrated at 20 farmers’ fields in Sonipat, Rohtak and Jhajjar districts.

• Water driven AquaCrop model was calibrated and validated for maize and wheat crop.

• Yield of salt tolerant wheat varieties up to 12 dS m^-1 developed by CSSRI were tested under different salinity levels and the salt dynamics in the crop root zone and salt budgeting was studied.

• A system architecture of DSS for the WYC command was developed using Microsoft Visual C#.NET for integrating modules, developed databases, ET₀Calculator, CROPWAT and AquaCrop models, GIS and spatial query interface (Fig. 2). It comprises nine modules namely, Database & Maps, Water Demand, Canal Supply, Groundwater, Scheduling, Modelling, Constraints, BMP based strategies and Farmer’s Services. First two modules were tested successfully.

Fig. 2. DSS Interface for the WYC command

• Nearly 370 stakeholders including water users association members and farmers from Sonipat, Rohtak and Jhajjar districts (Fig.3 a and b) were imparted training on growing good crop yield under uncertain water supply, ongoing secondary soil salinization, waterlogging and low soil fertility.

(Fig.3 a and b Farmers' Capacity Building Training)

• Thirty nine field level officers from CADA, Agriculture and Irrigation Department, RRS-HAU and KVKs (Fig.4 a and b) were trained on ‘Use of Modern Tools for Enhancing Productivity in Irrigated Saline Environment’.

(Fig.4 a and b Officers' Training)