Irrigating crops is an agricultural practice that goes back thousands of years in human history. Despite significant advances in technology over time, the basic purpose of irrigation is much the same: to supplement water available through rainfall for the purpose of increasing crop yields and crop quality. As we know water management is becoming an increasing concern in agriculture, whether that’s dealing with too much or too little water. This is highlighted by recent events such as last year’s drought, flooding and depleting aquifers. Finding tools and methods to better manage water is critical to the future success of farming, not just in India but also globally. In our previous blogs, we told the pros and cons of different types of irrigation system. Today we will talk about why is irrigation necessary in agriculture.

Importance Of Irrigation :

In the next 35 to 45 years of world food production will need to double to meet the demands of an increased population. Ninety percent of this increased food production will have to come from existing lands & seventy percent of this increased food production will have to come from irrigated land. Without irrigation, farming is very limited & if the rainfall decreases to less than 30cm, agriculture becomes impossible without irrigation. It increases crop yield. It protects from famine. It helps to cultivate superior crops with the water supply as per the need of the crops. Insufficient, uncertain and irregular rain causes uncertainty in agriculture. The period of rain is restricted to only four months in a year, June to September when the monsoon arrives. The remaining eight months are dry. There is some rainfall during the months of December and January in some parts of the country. Even during monsoon, the rainfall is scanty and undependable in many parts of the country. Sometimes the monsoon delayed considerably while sometimes they cease prematurely. This pushes large areas of the country into drought conditions. With the help of irrigation, droughts and famines can be effectively controlled. Since India has a tropical and sub-tropical climate, it has potentialities to grow crops on a year-round basis. However, since 80% of the annual rainfall is received in less than four months, multiple cropping is generally not possible. Provision of irrigation facilities can make possible the growing of two or three crops in a year in most areas of the country. This will considerably enhance agricultural production and productivity.

Irrigation helps in stabilizing the output and yield levels. It also plays a protective role during drought years. Since both income and employment are positively and closely related to output, prevention of fall in output during drought is an important instrument for achieving stability of income and employment in the countryside. Irrigation has enabled many states to acquire ‘partial immunity’ from drought. Irrigation confers indirect benefits through increased agricultural production. The employment potential of irrigated lands, increased production, helps in developing allied activities, means of water transport, etc. are the improved income of a government from agriculture. Availability of regular water supply will increase the income of farmers imparting a sense of security and stability in agriculture.