Indian Irrigation

The word Irrigation comes from the Latin word moist or wet which means wetting of something or watering. The word irrigation is closely associated with agriculture. The cropping intensity of a field is dependent on the irrigation facility. The agriculture which is dependent on rainfall is called rainfed agriculture and the agriculture which has the impact of irrigation is called irrigated farming. Apart from agricultural activity irrigation also helps to grow vegetable cover on land, grow horticultural crops, reduce soil erosion, and increase biomass on the soil. It has also an indirect impact like its increased groundwater recharge.

Irrigation in India

Today, the importance of irrigation is more than ever. This is due to the large demand for crops by an ever-increasing population of the country and the necessity of maximizing the agricultural production and yields in every cultivable land. Water is mandatory for agriculture and many places in India do not have the necessary or adequate water supply to support a full-fledged agricultural sector. The arid and semi-arid regions face comparatively more scarcity of water and thus, the need for irrigation is even more in those regions. The agricultural sector has changed a lot over the years in India and now, most agricultural practices require more water than before therefore, irrigation has become indispensable. In India, over the years, the five-year plans have prioritized irrigation schemes and newer areas are now brought under the irrigation schemes. In India, where the climate is so diverse and the monsoon can be very irregular at times, it is important to have proper irrigation facilities to support the huge population’s demand for crops.

Types of Irrigation in India

Irrigation can be of different types based on the requirement of the crop, budget of the farmers or investors, and area of agriculture. There are four main types of irrigation practices in India. They are as follows:

1. Surface Irrigation- This type of irrigation is very simple where the agricultural fields are watered through a drainage system that is previously and specifically built. Large pipelines can be seen in fields that water the plants on time as controlled by the operators/farmers.
2. The Sprinkler Irrigation- In this method, water is given to the crops with the help of a sprinkler. The sprinkler is like a prayer that throws water in all directions and all around the sprinkler itself.
3. Drip System- With the help of this method, water is supplied to the roots of the crops/plants. The water is supplied through small pipes which have very small holes in them at regular intervals. These holes are strategically placed near the roots of the plants and row by row, water is supplied to the roots slowly. This method is a micro-irrigation system and it is very economically feasible and popular because it has the potential to save a lot of water and also does not enhance soil erosion activities i.e., removal of the topsoil due to huge volumes of water is not dropped at once that may erode the soil.
4. Subsurface Irrigation- In this method, water is supplied to the agricultural fields from below the surface of the soil. This process is also widely used in different states of India.

Sources of irrigation in India

India is very diverse when it comes to adopting irrigational processes. Due to different weather conditions and different levels or sources of availability of water, different places require different methods of irrigation. Thus, farmers adopt the method that suits them best or suits the crops the best. In India, the major sources of irrigation water come in the form of canals, wells, tanks, and groundwater. Recently, rainwater harvesting has also become quite familiar to many farmers.

Conclusion

Irrigation is a necessity for modern-day agriculture. Irrigation promotes the productivity of an agricultural area and makes agricultural activities possible in the area where there is no water in the dry months of monsoon rain. In India, different places adopt different types of irrigation methods, and the decision to choose the method is based on what suits the farmer or the crops best.