Irrigation | IBPS PO Prelims & Mains Preparation - Bank Exams PDF Download

The main methods of irrigation in India are 
(1) canals, 
(2) wells and tube wells, and 
(3) tanks. 
Canals irrigate nearly 40 percent of the irrigated area in the country, wells, and tubewells also nearly 40 percent, and the tanks nearly 12 percent.

• Canal irrigation is extensively practiced in the Northern Plain, especially Punjab, Haryana, U.P., and Bihar.
• Well- irrigation is practiced all over the country but most significantly in Uttar Pradesh and the submontane region of Punjab.
• Tank irrigation is practiced in the Deccan Plateau, especially in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Orissa.
• Irrigable water is measured in the unit of hectare meters. One hectare meter of water is the quantity of water standing to a depth of one meter over a level piece of land, one hectare in area.
• The average run-off in the river system of the country has been assessed as 1869 Km3. Of this, the utilizable portion is estimated as about 690 Km3.
• In addition, there is substantial replenishable groundwater potential in the country estimated at 432 Km3. 
• The per-capita availability of water has reduced from about 5277 m3 in the year 1955 to the present level of 1970 m3. 
• Underground water resources are about 27 million hectares meters. Of this, about one-third is being used for irrigation. 
• At present, only about one-fourth of the net area under cultivation has been provided with irrigation. The land area that can ultimately be irrigated has been assessed to be 113 million hectares as against a possible gross cropped area of 210 million hectares on the full development of irrigation potentialities.
• Expansion of irrigation facilities along with the consolidation of the existing systems has been the main strategy for increasing the production of food grains. Irrigation support is provided through a major, medium, and minor irrigation projects and command area development. 
• With sustained and systematic development of irrigation, irrigation potential has increased from 22.6 MHA in1951, when the process of planning began in India, to about 102.77 MHA at the end of 2006-07.

Command Area Development Programme

• A Centrally-sponsored Command area Development Programme was launched in 1974-75 with the main objective of improving utilization of irrigation potential and optimizing agricultural productivity and production from the irrigated areas by integrating all functions related to irrigated agriculture.
• Beginning with 60 major and medium irrigation projects in 1974, the Programme included 314 irrigation projects at the end of 2005-06 with a Culturable Command Area (CCA) of 28.68 million hectares spread over 23 states and two Union Territories.
• The CAD Programme has been restructured and renamed “Command Area Development and Wats Management Programme” from 1st April.

Ground Water Development

• In India groundwater has been used for irrigation and domestic water supply since time immemorial.
• At present, more than 70 percent of the population uses groundwater for its domestic needs, and more than half of irrigation is provided from this source.
• The total replenishable groundwater in India is estimated to be about 43.18850 million hectares meters per year (about 432 billion cubic meters).
• About 7.1 m ha m/yr is used for domestic and industrial use. It is estimated that about 32.47264 m ha m/yr is available for irrigation. According to an estimate by Central Groundwater Board, 32 percent of available groundwater resources have so far been developed.