Paddy Double Cropping in Ketara Irrigation Scheme: An Analysis of Cropping Schedule

Water availability is the main criterion considered in the fixation of a planting schedule. As water plays a central role in crop establishment, and that water availability is dependent on rainfall pattern and irrigation system characteristics, the recommendation of a cropping schedule largely revolves around long term rainfall pattern. In the KETARA Irrigation Scheme, the irrigation water supply is tapped directly from the Sungai Besut river system at Besut Barrage. The town water supply is also dependent on the same water source, which lends competition to the irrigation authority in the use of water. The KET ARA authority has experienced irrigation water shortages in the scheme. To fix a cropping schedule to capitalize on direct rainfall within the irrigation command area will help to relieve the water deficient situation. In the process of recommending the best cropping schedule based on long term rainfall pattern, analysis is also carried out to ascertain the status of irrigation performance in the KETARA Irrigation Scheme. It is found that the overall irrigation efficiency of the KETARA Irrigation Scheme during the main season 1995/96 and off-season 1996 was 38.1%. Available stream flow in the Sungai Besut River System was not to be able to meet the peak water supply requirement of the scheme during the presaturation period during the off-season 1996. Contribution of direct rainfall towards total seasonal irrigation supply was in the region of 27% to 33%.

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