Irrigation

What is irrigation?
It is the system of artificially supplying water to the crops.

Why needed?

• The very nature of monsoon rainfall
• uncertain (hardly keeps its date of arrival and departure)
• variable (more variable in less rainfall areas)
• unevenly distributed over time and space
• monsoon gaps/ breaks
• torrential
• HYV seeds need more water
• some crops need more water
• for food security, more yield, more crops per year

What is 3 types of Irrigation Projects in India on the basis of Cultivable Command Area

• Major 
• Medium
• Minor

Different Irrigation Techniques (on how water is obtained and distributed)

• Surface (sometimes known as Flood Irrigation)
• Furrow
• Basin
• Border Strip
• Localized
• Drip
• Sprinkler/ Overhead
• Seepage/ Sub-irrigation

Vital Stats

• Net area under irrigation is 64 mha.
• Composition is as follows (2009-10 data)
• Canal (26%)
• Tank (3%)
• Wells and Tube wells (62%)
• Other means (9%)

Irrigation Systems in India

Tank

Well & Tube well

Canal

Broadly classified into i)Inundation canals and ii)Perennial canals.