Here is a compilation of essays on ‘Irrigation’ for class 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12. Find paragraphs, long and short essays on ‘Irrigation’ especially written for school and college students.

Essay on Irrigation


Essay Contents:

  1. Essay on the Definition of Irrigation
  2. Essay on the History of Irrigation Development in India
  3. Essay on the Importance of Irrigation
  4. Essay on the Types of Irrigation
  5. Essay on the Methods of Irrigation
  6. Essay on the Technique of Irrigation
  7. Essay on the Necessity of Irrigation
  8. Essay on the Sources of Irrigation
  9. Essay on the Significance of Irrigation
  10. Essay on Major, Medium and Minor Irrigation Works
  11. Essay on the Scope of Irrigation Development in India
  12. Essay on the Extent of Irrigation in India
  13. Essay on Improving Irrigation Projects in India


Essay # 1. Definition of Irrigation:

Irrigation is a systematically developed knowledge, based on long observations and experimentations, of handling available sources of water for economic growth of bumper crops.

It includes:

(i) Training and tapping of sources of water supply,

(ii) Storing of water,

(iii) Conveying that water effectively to the fields. It includes drainage of surplus water and then,

(iv) Using that supply of water economically for the bumper crop production.

Irrigation can be divided into two main phases, namely:

(a) Engineering phase, and

(b) Agricultural phase.


Essay # 2. History of Irrigation Development in India:

(a) Irrigation in Ancient India:

Irrigation is an art practised in our country from time immemorial. Its existence could be traced back to centuries before the Christian era. The ancient scriptures such as Rig Veda, Atharva Veda, Ramayana, Mahabharat and Puranas contain many references to the value and practice of irrigation.

The scriptures laid down construction of wells, canals and tanks as part of the duty of the rulers to the public. The old traditions were maintained by the various rulers throughout the history. The famous historian Megasthenes, the Greek Ambassador, in his records dating 300 B.C. had written that the country was under irrigation and was prosperous and growing double crops.

In the ancient days, irrigation works in our country comprised dug wells, small tanks and diversion works on perennial rivers. The grand anicut (weir), constructed with stone laid in clay, across the Cauvery River is one of the notable ancient irrigation works constructed by the great Chola ruler in 200 A.D.

The earliest canals were mostly of inundation type which utilised monsoon flows for a period of three to four months when the water level in rivers remained high enough to permit flow of water into the canals. The western and eastern Yamuna canals constructed by the King Ferozshah Tughlak in 1355 A.D. and the Bari-Doab constructed by the Mogul Emperor Shah Jahan are the notable canals constructed in northern India in early days.

(b) Irrigation Development during British Rule:

These canals were subsequently remodelled, renovated and converted into perennial canals in the first half of the nineteenth century during the British period. This was followed by a large number of diversion works with extensive canal systems. Important among them are Upper Ganga Canal, the Upper Bari-Doab Canal, the Godavari delta system, the Krishna delta system, the Sirhind canal on the Sutlej River which was constructed towards the middle of the nineteenth century.

Then start an era of storage reservoirs. The storage dams like the Khadakwasala near Pune with the Mutha canal system and the Periyar dam in the erstwhile Travancore State to divert the west flowing Periyar waters towards the east were constructed in the later half of the nineteenth century.

During the closing decades of the nineteenth century the country was stalked by successive famines. It led to setting up of a series of famine commissions. As a follow up, schemes like the Betwa canal in Uttar Pradesh, the Nira left bank canal in Maharashtra and Rushikulya system in Orissa were executed.

At the turn of the twentieth century First Irrigation Commission was set up to take stock of the existing irrigation facility and to make recommendations for its furtherance. As a result of the findings of the Irrigation Commission special attention was given to development of irrigation in the country.

The Godavari canals, the Pravara canals and Nira right bank canals in Maharashtra, the Sarda canal in Uttar Pradesh and the Gang canal in Rajasthan were some of the important works constructed in the pre-independence period of the twentieth century.

Three important reservoir projects namely, the Mettur reservoir in Tamil Nadu, the Krishnaraj Sagar in Mysore and the Nizam Sagar in Andhra Pradesh were also completed during this period. In addition, many other big and small irrigation works like those mentioned above and also tanks and wells were constructed. Table 1.1 gives the state wise list of some important irrigation works completed before independence.

Irrigation Works Completed Before Independence

(c) Irrigation Development since Independence or Planned Development of Irrigation:

Immediately before partition of the country net area irrigated in the Indian sub-continent was the largest in the world. The country, however, received a severe blow in the field of irrigation when it lost nearly 30 per cent of its best irrigated areas as a result of the partition of the country in 1947. To off-set the drastic reduction in irrigated areas great emphasis was placed on irrigation when an era of planning began in 1951.

During the last six decades over 2200 big and small irrigation projects have been taken up. They include various types of dams, barrages and canals. Nearly 1400 of them have already been completed by the end of Tenth Plan which ended in March 2007.


Essay # 3. Importance of Irrigation:

India is primarily an agricultural country. Nearly seventy percent of its population is dependent upon it. Adverse climatic conditions cause considerable distress not only to farmers and agricultural labourers but to all the population of the country. Hence, it is but natural that in a chronically deficit country like India agricultural production has assumed highest priority.

Living standard of the people can only be raised by increasing food production. This calls for proper and timely supply of various inputs like good seeds, irrigation, fertilizers and pesticides. The necessity for, provision of more and more irrigation facilities need no emphasis. In fact irrigation can be rightly called backbone of agriculture.


Essay # 4. Types of Irrigation:

Various types of irrigation are as follows:

i. Lifting Devices:

Water may be simply lifted from a well, river or canal by a bucket to the fields. Such devices as the shaduf, the Archimedean Screw and various kinds of water wheel or treadmill have been in use for thousands of years. In modern times diesel, steam or electrically operated pumps can be used. They are especially useful where water is obtained from a deep well rather than from canals.

ii. Basin Irrigation:

This method has been practised in Egypt for many centuries but is of less importance today. When the Nile rises in summer, part of the flood-water is allowed to flood basin-like fields on either side of the river. The water is controlled by sluices. Basin irrigation, using canal-water rather than river water is also used to grow padi in the U.S.A.

iii. Tanks:

Tanks are small reservoirs used for storing water which falls in the rainy season. They are common in southern India and Sri Lanka. The water stored is rarely sufficient for use all the year round but does lengthen the growing season.

iv. Canal Irrigation:

Canals which lead irrigation water from rivers or storage lakes are the most impor­tant feature of irrigated lands. Inundation canals lead off water from a river in time of flood. These are simple but do not provide water all the year round.

Perennial canals are fed by water stored behind a large dam or barrage and can thus be supplied all the year round. Storage barrages feed canals not only below the dam but also above because, by raising the level of the river behind the dam, water can be led into higher level canals.

v. Overhead Irrigation:

This is a modern system and is now practised in many parts of the world. Sprays and sprinklers are set up in the fields and supplied with water by hoses from public water supplies. The initial cost of the equipment is high and water must be con­tinually pumped. The method is however a common one in the U.S.A., Britain and Europe.


Essay # 5. Methods of Irrigation:

Some methods of irrigation are described below:

i. Well Irrigation:

Tank irrigation is regarded as minor irrigation system which commands over 1,000 to 2,500 hectares of land. It has been estimated that the total number of this type of irrigation project may exceed 26.9 million in number. Though this type of irrigation covers smaller area than the other ambitious large projects but as it ensures uninterrupted water supply during requirement, it became very popular among the cultivators.

Relative low cost of its installation in India also gave it a fillip. Cost-benefit ratio reveals that in some areas, tank irrigation is very economic. In recent years, construction of tanks in the interior regions made a great stride.

Among the various kinds of tank irrigation methods dug wells, shallow tube- wells and public tube-wells are most important. Considering the efficiency and low cost for its installation, Government is trying earnestly for extension of well irrigation in the drought- prone areas.

Well irrigation is becoming the popular method of irrigation all over the country. Spa­tially, it is most widespread in plains, coasts and some of the regions of peninsular India. Approximately there are 14.5 million wells in India, out of which 9.5 million are dug-wells and 4.75 million shallow tube-wells. Rest of the wells are public tube-wells.

ii. Tank Irrigation:

Tank irrigation is the other most popular method of irrigation in the States of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra. Numerous tanks were constructed in those states and used as a popular means of irrigation since very ancient period.

Though tanks are occasionally used as the major source of irrigation, most of these are very ill-main­tained. Improper use of these reservoirs had resulted in depletion of ground water quantum. Even some of the noted tanks were abandoned, as most of these became dried up. In 1987-88, nearly 3.5 million hectares of land was irrigated by tank waters.

Though there has been slen­der increase of net irrigated area through tank water compared to 1985-86, then 3.07 million hectares was under tank irrigation, the progress is not at all satisfactory. In 1962-63 the total irrigated land from tank water was only 4.78 lakh hectares. Considering the gradual decrease of percentage share of tank irrigation to total irrigation, setting up of National Tank Development and Management Board under the central governance is now under serious consideration.

iii. Canal Irrigation:

Canals, play a vital role in irrigation. Some of the Indian canals are contributing water to the agricultural fields even since the Gupta period (100-300 A.D.).

Indian canals are chiefly of two types:

a. Inundation Canals:

Inundation canals are constructed directly on a river, without having any weir in the head for the control of water flow. During flood, excess water from the river enters into the canal. After the recession of flood water, canals become deficient of the water reserve. As the flow of canals come only in the rainy reason, during lean period these canals remain idle. Most of the inundation canals are situated within the Indus basin in Punjab.

b. Perennial Canals:

Perennial canals contain water throughout the year. Embankments or weirs constructed at their head controls the discharge of water after careful monitoring of the water reserve and need in agriculture. Most of the perennial canals are located in the states of U.P., Bihar, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan and Orissa.


Essay # 6. Technique of Irrigation:

In the engineering phase first and foremost step is to assess the availability of suitable source of water. It could be either in the form of perennial and abundant flow in the river or enormous river flows during a part of the year or ample ground water reserve. Once the assessment is done it will indicate the mode of utilisation. For example, if supply is regular and adequate, simple diversion arrangement is sufficient.

On the other hand when river flow is concentrated in a limited time span like monsoon, it becomes essential to store water by constructing dams to create reservoirs. To utilise ground water reserve drilling of wells and provision of pumps forms most suitable technique.

While employing various means of tapping the water resource it is essential that flow conditions are properly adjusted by taking various training measures like construction of guide and marginal bunds to give proper direction to the flow, implementation of various anti-erosion works to arrest soil erosion, provision of spillway to release extra volume of water etc.

Once the water supply is ensured next step is to carry it to the fields. In order to supply the water efficiently without losing its quantity and quality, well designed canal network fitted with necessary regulatory structures like regulators, falls, cross drainage works is constructed. To avoid any ill-effect on the environment arrangements are to be made simultaneously to drain off excess flows suitably to avoid water-logging in the region.

Lastly but not of least importance is the work of application of water to the fields. Efficient water management comprises construction of suitable outlets, command area development works and construction of water courses and field channels. Although the art of irrigation does not end here the responsibility of engineers is fulfilled at this point whereas that of agricultural scientists begins.


Essay # 7. Necessity of Irrigation:

There is no single requirement of plant life which is more vital than provision of water. Adequate quantities of water should be readily available within the root zone of all kinds of plant life. Such water if not present in the soil naturally, may be applied by irrigation or be derived directly from rainfall during the crop season.

Even today rainfall is beyond the control of a man. It is estimated that one third of the earth’s surface receives less than 250 mm of yearly rainfall and that another one third receives only 250 to 500 mm. Also, in areas where rainfall is more it is received within a few months during the year. It shows that we cannot depend upon rainfall completely. Necessity for adopting some irrigation method is four fold.

Firstly, when the seasonal rainfall is less than the minimum required for satisfactory crop growth. That is irrigation is needed when rainfall is insufficient. For example, in semi-arid areas of Haryana the agriculture is uncertain unless some assured irrigation facility is created.

Secondly, every crop requires a certain quantity of water after certain fixed intervals of time till the crop matures. Usually rainfall cannot supply water at fixed intervals of time. Naturally irrigation is required when rainfall is ill-distributed according to the crop requirements. For example southern parts of Rajasthan.

Thirdly, some crops (for example sugarcane) require regular supply for long time which rainfall cannot provide. Thus irrigation is needed to give regular supply for long time. For example sugarcane is growing areas of Uttar Pradesh.

Fourthly, the areas with nominal rainfall are always exposed to drought conditions. Irrigation makes it possible to cultivate lands where rain usually fails. For example, in Rajasthan desert only irrigation has made cultivation possible.


Essay # 8. Sources of Irrigation:

In India various sources of irrigation include canals, wells including tube wells, tanks and other sources. In 1950-51, canal irrigation received maximum importance and above 40 per cent of area irrigated was covered by canals. But with the passage of time, importance of well irrigation including tube-wells has been increasing.

Thus, the area covered by well irrigation has increased from 29 per cent of the net cropped area to 48 per cent and out of which tube wells accounted nearly 26 per cent of the total irrigated area. Importance of tanks and other sources of irrigation has declined sharply.

The irrigation works in India are classified into major, medium and minor irrigation works. Since 1950, these works were classified on the basis of cost of these projects, i.e., projects costing more than Rs 5 crore as major projects, projects costing between Rs 25 lakh and Rs 5 crore as medium projects and projects costing less than Rs. 25 lakh as minor irrigation works.

But since 1978-79, Planning Commission has introduced a new classification of irrigation schemes on the basis of culturable command area (CCA) as follows:

(a) Major irrigation projects with culturable command areas (CCA) of more than 10,000 hectares.

(b) Medium irrigation projects with culturable command areas (CCA) of more than 2,000 hectares and up to 10,000 hectares.

(c) Minor irrigation projects with culturable command area (CCA) up to 2,000 hectares.

Due to the introduction of all these different sources of irrigation, the area sown more than once has increased from 1.171 million hectares in 1950-51 to 7.09 million hectares in 1970-71 and then to 43.0 million hectares in 1990-91. Thus, the area sown more than once which was only 8.2 per cent of net irrigated area gradually rose to 88.1 per cent in 1991-92.


Essay # 9. Significance of Irrigation:

Indian economy is primarily an agricultural one. To run its agricultural operations smoothly throughout the year, controlled, assured and continuous water supply through irrigation system is very important.

Realising the importance of irrigation system, Mahatma Gandhi observed, “Nothing can be more important than the provision of irrigation facilities in all villages of the country, because this constitutes the basis for agricultural growth. In the absence of irrigation facilities, agriculture is nothing more than a gamble.”

Maintaining the same rhetoric, Sir Charles Travillion observes “In India, irrigation is everything. Water is more important than even land because when irrigated the productivity of soil rises almost six times.”

Thus, in order to adopt intensive method of cultivation along with a systematic cropping pattern, irrigation system is considered very important.

Accordingly, the Planning Commission has rightly observed, “Success in enlarging the area under irrigation is crucial in raising agricultural production. An efficient irrigated cropping system alone can sustain India’s ever expanding population. Irrigation provides food security against the vagaries of monsoon and enables cropping intensity to increase.”

Following are some of the important significance of irrigation to Indian agriculture:

i. Unequal Distribution of Rainfall:

In India, the distribution of rainfall is uneven. While the states like Rajasthan have been experiencing an insignificant record of 25 to 30 centimeters of rainfall but the North Eastern states, Kerala are again experiencing a heavy rainfall much higher than the average requirement of 100 centimeters of rainfall. Thus, irrigation is very much important under the present context.

ii. Irregular Rainfall:

Again the frequency of rainfall in India is highly irregular leading to unprecedented drought and flood. Thus in the absence of irrigation facilities and rational water management agriculture can be considered as ‘gamble of monsoons’.

iii. Shorter Period of Rainfall:

In India, the period of rainfall is very much concentrated to a shorter period ranging from June to September. Only the states like Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Tamil Nadu experience rainfall during winter for a very short period. For adopting multiple cropping systems, thus irrigation throughout the year has become very much important.

iv. Intensive Cultivation:

Modernisation of agricultural sector has paved the way for intensive cultivation which again cannot be adopted without systematic irrigation system.

v. Reclamation:

For the reclamation of wasteland into cultivable land, irrigation is a must.

vi. Raising Productivity:

In order to raise the agricultural productivity per hectare in India, irrigation potential should be widened extensively. Krishna Bhardwaj has rightly observed,

Through irrigation, productivity is raised in three different ways:

(i) By raising more crops,

(ii) By lowering the unit cost of production, and

(iii) By raising more profitable crops.

vii. Controlling Natural Calamities:

Development of canals and lift irrigation system can contain the problem of floods and famines arising out of drought.

viii. Commercial Farming:

Development of irrigation potential and its utilisation can pave the way for commercialisation of agriculture in place of subsistence farming, which can play a pivotal role in raising the level of income of the farming community.

ix. Plantation:

Irrigation facility has nowadays become very much important for tea, coffee and rubber plantations which are very much profitable.

x. Fostering Pastures:

Irrigation facility can also foster permanent pasture lands necessary for grazing cattle and other livestock.

xi. Employment Generation:

Development of irrigation facilities can generate adequate employment opportunities by developing the system of multiple cropping throughout the year and also by reclamation of waste land.

xii. Economic Development and Planning:

By raising agricultural productivity, irrigation system can play an important role in the planned development of our country. Modernized agricultural sector can play a pivotal role for the development of industry, trade and transportation system required for all round development of the country. Moreover, such increased productivity can also raise the Government revenue base, required for financing development.


Essay # 10. Major, Medium and Minor Irrigation Works:

For administrative facility irrigation projects are classified into three categories:

They are:

(i) Major projects (C.C.A. > 10,000 ha).

(ii) Medium projects (2000 ha < C.C.A. < 10,000 ha).

(iii) Minor projects (C.C.A. < 2000 ha).

Major and medium projects utilise surface water and they are big in size. A project costing more than Rs 5 crores was previously called a major project and others were called medium projects. Minor irrigation schemes tap small surface water sources as well as ground water. Cost based classification has now become irrelevant due to abnormal price rise.

The latest way of classification is based on extent of areas benefited from each project. Now projects having C.C.A. more than, 10,000 ha each are called major projects. Those with C.C.A. less than 2000 ha are called minor schemes and the intermediate ones are called medium schemes.

From some of the major and medium projects benefits other than irrigation are also obtained. Such projects are called multipurpose projects. Other benefits obtained from such projects are hydro-power, flood control, navigation, domestic and industrial water supply etc. Some important projects completed since independence or are under various stages of completion are given in Table 1.2.

Important Post-Independent Projects

Notable projects of North India are Bhakra Nangal and Beas projects in Himachal and Punjab, Chambal project and Rajasthan canal project in Rajasthan, Matatila and Ramganga projects in Uttar Pradesh and Jawaharlal Nehru lift irrigation scheme in Haryana.


Essay # 11. Scope of Irrigation Development in India:

India is a vast country. Its total geographical area is 328.726 million hectares. Of this nearly 198 million hectares are cultivable. Out of this, leaving area under fallow, pastures and groves and gardens the present net area sown is of the order of 142 million hectares and gross cropped area is 193 million hectares as is 2005-2006.

The latest assessment has shown that ultimately about 140 million hectares, 58.5 M. ha from Major and Medium schemes and 81.5 M. ha from Minor schemes, could be brought under irrigation.

Table 1.3 gives the development of irrigation at a glance during different periods:

Irrigation Development During Different Plans

Above table shows that considerable progress has been achieved in development of irrigation since independence.

In their report (published in 1972) the Irrigation Commission recommended technological advances like interlinking of rivers, scientific water management, conjunctive use of ground and surface waters, etc. to meet the challenges of the future. By this it is expected that ultimate irrigation potential of the country may go upto 140 million hectares or so.

By end of X plan potential is created to irrigate about 49% of the total cropped area. Considering limitations of physiography, geology and dependability of flows it is felt that with the conventional modes of irrigation only about 59% of the gross cropped area may come under irrigation in coming future. This development is, however, not likely to meet food requirements of ever increasing population in full.


Essay # 12. Extent of Irrigation in India:

North-eastern region, north Bengal, Himachal Pradesh and plains west of Western Ghats receive adequate quantity of rainfall and hence irrigation works are not extensive in these areas.

Parts of alluvial plains of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Haryana and Punjab are irrigated by wells and tube wells. Plateaus of Deccan are irrigated by tank or reservoir waters.

Most of Punjab, Haryana/Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Bihar, plains of Southern Indian rivers, and plains along eastern coast are mainly irrigated by drawing water from the rivers.

The extent of irrigation by various main types of irrigation in the country is given below:

The sources of irrigation in most areas of our country are insufficient to meet the requirements. Total area of our country is 3288 lakh hectares.

As in 2005-06 total cultivated area is estimated to be 1928 lakh hectares. But national average of area under irrigation is only 43 percent of the total cultivated area. Decidedly our principle aim during the coming decades would be to increase the area under irrigation. Cause of increasing agricultural production and also of raising the living standard of the people can be served well only by increasing irrigation facilities.


Essay # 13. Improving Irrigation Projects in India:

i. Timely Implementation:

Irrigation projects in India must be implemented within definite time schedule for checking escalation of its cost, for realising maximum benefits and also for the interest of undertaking new projects.

ii. Regular Maintenance:

Regular maintenance of irrigation projects is very important for smooth operation of the project and also for avoiding sudden disruption in water supply to the field.

iii. Extension of CAD:

Command Area Development programme should be extended extensively so that farmers can get the related facilities along with land shaping and leveling, field channeling, warabandi system etc. for optimising the use of irrigation water.

iv. Utilisation of Unutilised Capacity:

The unutilized capacity of the irrigation projects should be utilised to the maximum extent and possible arrangement should be made in this direction.

v. Safeguarding against Problems:

Another important suggestion in this regard is to safeguard the land against the problems arising out of waterlogging, growing alkalinity and salinity of soil by utilizing canal water etc.

vi. Extension Programmes:

Necessary steps be taken to launch the extension programmes for educating the farmers on maximum possible utilisation of irrigation water and for adopting multiple cropping system and also on other techniques of crop management.

vii. Removing Regional Imbalances:

Government should take necessary steps for removing the regional imbalances in respect of development of irrigation potential by developing new projects in neglected drought prone areas.

viii. Settlement of Inter-State Disputes:

Immediate steps be taken for the speedy settlement of inter­state disputes on irrigation projects for the maximum possible utilisation of the project and for the greater interest of the nation by narrowing down regional sentiments.

ix. Restoration of Viability:

Viability restoration approach should be adopted as an important strategy to wipe out perennial losses arising out of faulty decisions and also rationalizing the irrigation charges in a systematic manner.


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