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RESEARCHABLE AND PROMOTIONAL ISSUES IN MICROIRRIGATION
H.S.Chauhan
1
Controlled would slowly turn into social, economical and political crisis. Present irrigation system is operating at 35 –50 efficiency against 60-65 expected causing enormous
wastage of precious resource besides ushering ecological degradation. Considering the
ABSTRACT
Micro irrigation is an efficient method of water application, applicable mostly for fruits vegetables and field crops. It was introduced in India about 3 decades back which has
expanded at a very fast rate. Its coverage has been higher than most of the countries. Although its application has progressed in most of the states in India, it has extended
maximum in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka, Taminadu and Andhra. A number of system manufacturers have come up which not only to manufacture but also to design
install and maintain the systems. The Government of India is also providing subsidy to encourage its application. However with fast expansion a number of concepts and issues
have also evolved relating to Crops, Micro irrigation components, Standardization, and Implementation. The objective of this paper is to describe the concepts and analyze the
problems.
INTRODUCTION
Micro irrigation was introduced in early 1980 on an experimental scale in many locations in India. Initially this irrigation method was adopted in the Maharastra State because of
acute water scarcity conditions. Gradually the practice extended in the states of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu also. Major coverage of drip irrigation area lies in these
states. Other states like Gujarat, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh are also slowly adopting this irrigation technology. Drip irrigation has been mostly adopted
for commercialhorticultural crops such as grapes, banana, coconut etc. It has also been adopted for sugarcane, tea, coffee, cardamom and other plantation crops in different
states. There is an acute realization of importance of improving water management for
sustainable development of agriculture which contributes about 20 to India’s GDP. It is realized that water is no longer unlimited and bountiful which can be used
thoughtlessly, that would have adverse consequences to the posterity. The situation becomes more appalling with the increasing number of ground water overexploited areas.
Presently ground water is over exploited in more than 440 blocks in the country and water tables are fast declining making further development of agriculture more difficult. In many
parts of the country the situation is reaching alarmingly critical or permanently irreversible which if not
1-
FormerProfessorandDeanTechnology, G.B.PantUnive.ofAgri. Tech.Pantnagar
cost of creating new sources, country can ill afford such a luxury of present irrigation practices that irrigate more of soil and les of crop.
Theoretical potential for micro irrigation according to Tankhiwale is estimated at 176.19 million hectare including 16.89 million hectare of fruits and vegetables and 159.5 million
hectare of oilseeds and field crops. On a conservative assessment the area most suitable for MIS as estimated by the Horticulture Commissioner, MOA, is 27million hectare.
However, despite its established benefits the progress of the system has not been substantial. With government support and aggressive pioneering dedicated and
concerted efforts by the manufacturers; MIS has spread well in a short span of time. But this speedy coverage has slowed down during past few years and unless hard decisions
are taken the prospects of growth of MIS may become gloomy. In that event meeting food security could pose a challenge.
Micro irrigation has fairly extensively covered in a large area in India in the last two decades. A number of new concepts have developed internationally. Also during its
extension several problems have been encountered. It is worth testing these concepts Proper solution of these problems would further expeditious promotion of this efficient
method of water application. Some of the issues may be broadly divided as, criteria of Adoption, Crop related issues, components related problems, Special Applications, Issues
of standardization and: Implementation problems These have been identified and
discussed in the paper.
Researchable Issues
1. High density orchards
