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Largest & Longest Irrigation Canal in India UPSC CSE

Irrigation in India

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Summary of Types of Irrigation in India

India has a large agrarian population that depends on this sector for their survival. Also, India has the largest population in the world to feed. So food security will remain challenging for the country. Thus, irrigation, which is a vital input for agriculture, is important. Irrigation has both protective and productive functions in the development of a crop. It can boost the production of a crop significantly. Under British Rule, very little emphasis was placed on irrigation, but since independence, both central and state governments have focussed on the development of irrigation. As a result of these efforts, the land area under irrigation has increased significantly to 48 percent of the total sown area. But still, there is a large dependency on the groundwater for irrigation, and that has led to a severe groundwater crisis in many districts in India. In addition to this, the water use efficiency in irrigation remains low, which threatens already limited surface and groundwater resources. To address these issues and increase the land under irrigation, the government is running Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana since the year 2015. Adoption of a water efficient irrigation system is the key focus of this scheme.

Drip Irrigation: in this type of irrigation, water is directly applied to the root zone of the crop. This is done by using drippers or emitters at fixed intervals according to the needs. These emitters and drippers are placed above the soil surface or sub-surface. Water is discharged at a rate lower than the infiltration rate of soil.

Sprinkler Irrigation: in this method, water is distributed in a manner that mimics natural rainfall. Water is sprayed through nozzles over an area. There are different types of sprinkler irrigation systems:

  • Central pivot
  • Towable pivot
  • Pop up sprinkler
  • Rain gun
  • Linear move sprinkler
  • Impact sprinkler

Sub-surface Drip Irrigation: In this irrigation method, drip pipes are buried below the soil surface. This allows the water to be discharged directly to the roots of the crops. It is one of the most water efficient irrigation methods, and distribution is uniform. Also, weed growth is minimal because most of the weed seeds are at the surface, which is devoid of water. This method is most suitable for dryland farming, as very little water is used and evaporation is minimised.

Fertigation involves the application of fertilisers by using the irrigation network on the field. For this, water soluble solid fertilisers or liquid fertilisers are supplied through drip or sprinkler irrigation. The word fertigation is a combination of two words: fertiliser and irrigation. The twin objectives of applying fertilisers and supplying irrigation are accomplished with one single task.

Water Use Efficiency (WUE): The ratio between effective water usage and actual water discharged is known as Water Use Efficiency (WUE) in irrigation.

Background of Types of Irrigation in India

Status of Water Resources in India

Water Utilisation in Agriculture

Introduction of Types of Irrigation in India

Irrigation is the process of making water (other than rainfall) available to the crops through artificial means. It is vital for plant growth.

Significance of Irrigation

  • By providing adequate irrigation techniques suitable for the soil and crop, a significant production increase is possible.
  • There is an uneven distribution of rainfall throughout the country.
  • Proper irrigation facilities allow the farmer to grow two or more crops in a year.
  • Irrigation is very important due to uncertainty related to the monsoon. The impact of less than normal rainfall or drought conditions can be minimised if irrigation facilities are available.
  • Some regions have sandy and loamy soil that does not possess water holding capacity. Thus, a large portion of rainwater sinks very quickly. In these regions, irrigation is necessary for agriculture.
  • The growing population needs a large amount of food production. For this intensive farming and short duration crops will become essential. Hence, demand for extensive irrigation is bound to increase.

Classification of irrigation systems based on source

Depending on the source of water available for irrigation, irrigation systems can be classified as:

Source of Irrigation (Yearbook 2018)
Canals Government 23.4%
Private 0.23%
Total 23.66%
Tanks 2.52%
Tube Wells 46.2%
Wells 16.6%
Other Sources 11%

Classification of Irrigation systems based on mode of delivery

Once the water reaches from the source of irrigation to the farm, it has to be distributed uniformly throughout the farm land so that the growth of crops is also uniform. Based on the mode of delivery, irrigation can be classified into the following types:

Fertigation

  • Fertilisers are very important for the growth of crops, and they enhance the yields of a crop. But the conventional method of fertiliser application is wasteful, and the runoff associated with it has a negative impact on the environment. Fertigation is a possible solution to these problems.
  • Fertigation involves the application of fertilisers by using the irrigation network on the field. For this, water soluble solid fertilisers or liquid fertilisers are supplied through drip or sprinkler irrigation. The word fertigation is a combination of two words: fertiliser and irrigation.
  • The twin objectives of applying fertilisers and supplying irrigation are accomplished with one single task.
  • Advantages Disadvantages
    • Uniformity in distribution.
    • Micronutrient availability is high; hence, better absorption and high growth is witnessed.
    • Decrease in labour costs and energy costs.
    • Amount of fertiliser consumed will be less as compared to conventional methods. This is because the fertiliser use efficiency of this method is 25-30% higher.
    • Fertiliser can be applied at regular intervals and in the required quantities. This will help in avoiding the leaching of soils.
    • Quality and quantity of crops will improve with lower input costs for fertiliser.
    • Risk of contamination of the main water supply due to the possibility of a reverse flow of irrigation water supply.
    • This method is not suitable for fertilisers that are not soluble in water.
    • Metallic components in the irrigation system are prone to corrosion. This may lead to an increased cost of frequent replacement of such components.
    • Some fertilisers may undergo chemical changes within the irrigation system.

How has irrigation changed the cropping pattern in India?

Challenges associated with Irrigation in India

Government Efforts

  • Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY)
    • This scheme was launched in 2015.
    • It aims to:
      • Enhance access to water on farms.
      • Increase the cultivable area under assured irrigation (har khet ko pani).
      • Improve water-use efficiency in irrigation.
      • Promote sustainable water conservation practices.
    • This scheme has been conceived by amalgamating the Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme (AIBP), Integrated Watershed Management Programme (IWMP), and On Farm Water Management (OFWM) component of National Mission on Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA).
    • It is implemented by the Ministry of Jal Shakti, the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Rural Development.
    • It is a centrally sponsored scheme.
    • The scheme has adopted a decentralised strategy for implementation that involves state level planning that allows states to design their own irrigation development plans based on the District Irrigation Plan (DIP) and the State Irrigation Plan (SIP).
    • The Inter-Ministerial National Steering Committee (NSC), constituted under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister and Union Ministers from the concerned ministries, will monitor and supervise the overall programme.
    • To oversee programme implementation, interministerial coordination, allocation of funds, and other such tasks, the National Executive Committee (NEC), under the chairmanship of Vice Chairman Niti Aayog, is constituted.
    • It has four components:
      Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme (AIBP)
      • Implementation by the Ministry of Jal Shakti.
      • This component focuses on the faster completion of ongoing major and medium irrigation projects, including national level projects.
      PMKSY Har Khet Ko Pani
      • Implementation by the Ministry of Jal Shakti.
      • To create new water resources through Micro-irrigation (both surface and ground water).
      • Command area development
      • Strengthening and creation of a distribution network from the source to the farm
      PMKSY Per Drop More Crop
      • Implementation by the Ministry of Agriculture.
      • To promote water-efficient and precision water application devices such as sprinklers, drips, pivots, rain guns, etc.
      • ICT interventions and awareness campaigns on water saving technologies, practices, and programmes.
      PMKSY Watershed Development
      • Implementation by the Ministry of Rural Development.
      • Water harvesting structures such as check dams, nala bunds, farm ponds, tanks, etc.
      • Effective rainfall management like field bunding, contour bunding/trenching, etc.
  • Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan Scheme (PM KUSUM)
    • Implemented by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).
    • It aims to provide financial and water security to farmers.
    • It will incentivise the farmer to switch to solar powered water pumps and to use their fallow land to generate extra income by harnessing solar power through solar panels.
    • It has three components:
      • Component A: Setting up of 10,000 MW of Decentralised Ground/ Stilt Mounted Grid Connected Solar or other Renewable Energy based Power Plants by the farmers on their land
      • Component B: Installation of 14 Lakh Stand-alone Solar Agriculture Pumps
      • Component C: Solarisation of 35 Lakh Grid Connected Agriculture Pumps including Feeder Level Solarization
    • It targets a solar capacity of around 34,800 MW by March 2026 under all three components.

Conclusion of Types of Irrigation in India

Currently, India has the highest cultivable land area under irrigation in the world. But, it is less than half of its arable land area. A large part of the country is still dependent on monsoon for cultivation. In addition to this, groundwater is the major source of irrigation, which is causing the water tables to go down at a rapid pace. Apart from this, the water use efficiency of existing irrigation remains low. Given that the per capita water availability of the country is decreasing very fast, it is vital to bring about a substantial change in irrigation practices. There must be a faster adoption of micro irrigation by the farmers to increase water use efficiency. To cater to a large population, there is an urgent need to expand the area under irrigation. For this, all water resources must be harnessed and utilised efficiently. Furthermore, farmers must be made aware of water saving practices and technologies so that there is effective implementation of government policies in this sector.

Main PYQS of Largest & Longest Irrigation Canal in India

Suggest measures to improve water storage and irrigation system to make its judicious useunder depleting scenario. (2020)
Elaborate on the impact of the National Watershed Project in increasing agricultural production from water-stressed areas. (2019)
What is water-use efficiency? Describe the role of micro-irrigation in increasing the water-use efficiency. (2019)
How and to what extent would micro-irrigation help in solving India's water crisis? (2021)

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