Economics · Ch 4 — Agriculture Sector
Irrigation and Water Management
4
Irrigation and Water Management
Irrigation
Irrigation is the artificial application of water to land to supplement rainfall for crop cultivation. Because a substantial share of India's net sown area still depends on the monsoon, extending assured irrigation has been a central plank of agricultural policy, and is a recurring short-answer topic in the Andhra Pradesh Intermediate Economics syllabus.
Sources of irrigation
- Canals — water drawn from rivers or reservoirs and carried through a network of channels; an important source in the alluvial plains of the north and in parts of peninsular India served by major and medium irrigation projects.
- Wells and tube wells — the single largest source of irrigation in India today, drawing on groundwater; tube wells in particular expanded rapidly after the Green Revolution because they give farmers direct control over the timing and quantity of water.
- Tanks — small reservoirs formed by constructing a bund across a stream or by collecting rainwater, historically important in peninsular India, including large parts of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, though their relative share has declined as tube-well irrigation expanded.
- Other sources — includes lift irrigation from rivers and canals using pumps, and, increasingly, micro-irrigation methods such as drip and sprinkler irrigation that improve water-use efficiency.
| Source | Nature | Typical regions |
|---|---|---|
| Canals | Surface water from rivers/reservoirs via channels | Northern plains; command areas of major projects |
| Wells / tube wells | Groundwater, farmer-controlled | Widespread; largest source nationally |
| Tanks | Rainwater/stream water impounded by a bund | Peninsular India, incl. AP/Telangana |
| Micro-irrigation (drip/sprinkler) | Pressurised, water-efficient delivery | Horticulture, water-scarce tracts |
Importance of irrigation
- Reduces dependence on the monsoon and the year-to-year uncertainty of rain-fed farming.
- Enables multiple cropping and the adoption of high-yielding varieties, which need controlled water supply.
- Raises and stabilises yields and farm incomes, and extends cultivation to otherwise dry areas.
- Supports diversification into higher-value irrigated crops such as horticulture and cash crops.
Problems in irrigation development
- Uneven regional spread, with some states and river basins far better irrigated than others. …