The Ministry of Jal Shakti has recently unveiled the 6th census of minor irrigation schemes, using data from 2017-18, uncovering interesting insights into irrigation practices in India. This continues the tradition of such censuses, with previous iterations taking place in 1986-87, 1993-94, 2000-01, 2006-07, and 2013-14.
Key Highlights of the Report
According to the report, India now hosts 23.14 million minor irrigation (MI) schemes. Groundwater (GW) schemes make up the majority, accounting for 21.93 million or 94.8% of all schemes. Surface Water (SW) schemes, on the other hand, are less common, with only 1.21 million instances, translating to a 5.2% share.
In terms of specific schemes, dug-wells lead the pack, followed by shallow tube-wells, medium tube-wells and deep tube-wells. The 6th MI census recorded a significant growth of about 1.42 million MI schemes compared to the prior one, with GW schemes and SW schemes growing by 6.9% and 1.2% respectively.
State-Wise Breakdown of MI Schemes
Several states stand out for their contributions to the number of MI schemes. Uttar Pradesh takes the top spot overall, with Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu also playing substantial roles. Maharashtra leads in dug-wells, surface flow and surface lift schemes. In contrast, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka and Punjab are the leading areas when it comes to shallow tube-wells, medium tube-wells and deep tube-wells respectively. SW schemes are most prevalent in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana, Odisha and Jharkhand.
Ownership and Financing of MI Schemes
The census also revealed that 96.6% of MI schemes are privately owned. Of these, 98.3% of GW schemes and 64.2% of SW schemes are under private ownership. The census recorded the gender of scheme owners for the first time, finding that women own 18.1% of individually owned schemes.
In financial terms, around 60.2% of schemes are financed through a single source, with individual farmers’ savings being a significant contributor to this single-source financing pool (79.5%). On the other hand, 39.8% of schemes are financed through multiple sources.
Understanding Minor Irrigation Schemes
Minor irrigation schemes are projects that use either surface water or groundwater to irrigate a cultivable command area (CCA) of up to 2,000 hectares. They can be broadly classified into two categories and six sub-categories. Ground Water schemes encompass dug-wells, shallow tube wells, medium tube wells, and deep tube wells. Surface Water schemes are made up of surface flow and surface lift schemes. These labour-intensive systems, which require reasonable investments and have short implementation periods, provide timely and controlled irrigation to support cultivation.
Government Initiatives Related to Irrigation
The government has undertaken several initiatives to boost irrigation. These include the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY), the ‘Per Drop More Crop’ program, and the ‘Mission Kakatiya’. These aim to ensure more effective use of water resources and enhance farmers’ ability to manage their water needs.
