A STUDY ON EXTENT OF PARTICIPATION AMONG BENEFICIARIES IN THE IAMWARM PROJECT IN TIRUCHIRAPPALLI DISTRICT OF TAMIL NADU INDIA

The study examined the extent of participation among beneficiaries in the Irrigated Agriculture Modernization and Water Bodies Restoration and Management (IAMWARM) project, implemented in Tamil Nadu in 2007 to enhance irrigation service delivery and promote modern water-saving technologies.Conducted in the Ponnaniyar sub-basin of Tiruchirappalli district, an ex-post facto research design was employed.Using proportionate random sampling, 120 respondents were selected from five villages in one randomly chosen block.The findings revealed that the majority of beneficiaries demonstrated medium levels of participation across various project activities, including training programs, adoption of innovative technologies, and involvement in decision-making processes.Education, information source utilization, economic motivation, risk orientation, and innovativeness were significantly correlated with participation levels.Constraints that limited participation included poor socio-economic status, high labour costs, inadequate credit facilities, and waterway management conflicts.Beneficiaries highlighted the need for timely subsidies, enhanced communication about subsidy availability, and increased awareness of farmer organizations to improve participation.Suggestions also included more field demonstrations, follow-up activities, and training on modern agricultural technologies.The study emphasizes the importance of addressing socio-economic barriers and fostering active engagement among beneficiaries to maximize the success and sustainability of agricultural development programs.