Events 
NCAER organised a National Workshop on March 17, 2026, at its campus in New Delhi, to deliberate on the assessment of indirect and intangible benefits of irrigation projects across local, command, and adjoining areas. The workshop brought together representatives from key government institutions, including functionaries of 20 State Governments, along with policymakers, technical experts, and researchers to discuss emerging approaches for capturing the broader socio-economic impacts of irrigation infrastructure.
The discussions at the workshop highlighted the need to move beyond conventional benefit–cost analysis and incorporate wider developmental outcomes such as improved market access, livelihood diversification, and enhanced household welfare. The analytical framework presented combines composite indices with econometric modelling to capture multidimensional impacts, underscoring the role of irrigation in strengthening rural economic linkages and improving quality of life.
The key deliberations focused on methodological aspects, including the treatment of market linkages, tourism-related impacts, time savings in water collection, and groundwater recharge. The participants noted that irrigation facilitates crop diversification, aids in price realisation, and reduces transaction costs, thereby strengthening the market integration of farmers. The inclusion of time savings as a welfare indicator was also widely recognized.
The workshop concluded with a consensus on further refining the analytical framework to enhance robustness and policy relevance in the sphere of irrigation. It is also expected to contribute to the development of a more comprehensive and evidence-based approach for incorporating indirect and intangible benefits into irrigation planning and evaluation.