SOME ASPECTS OF IRRIGATION SYSTEM MANAGEMENT IN INDIA

The role of irrigation in India in expanding crop production, reducing output instability and providing protection against periodic drought has been a major factor in the substantial achievement of Indian agric ulture over the past four decades. Irrigated crop yields are, however, only half those obtained elsewhere in Asia and if growth rates are to be maintained in the face of increasing technical, environmental and social limits being placed on the availability of water, the need to i ncrease productivity per unit of water is a key issue. India is now fa ced with a number of critical choices in irrigation management. The ch oice lies between a continuation of the present, possibly diminishing, agricultural growth rate, or a widespread reform and renewal of irrig ation management practices. Food production in India will become incre asingly dependent upon irrigation. Over 55% of agricultural output is from irrigated lands and production from rainfed areas is faced with l ack of land for expansion and the prevailing risk of drought. The pric ing environment, rural infrastructure and services are also fundamenta l to agricultural growth, but the resolution of water constraints enab led by irrigation is the key for productive capability.