Context:

The Ministry of Jal Shakti Releases the 6th Census Report On Minor Irrigation (MI) Schemes with reference year 2017-18 under the centrally sponsored scheme “Irrigation Census”.

•  So far, five censuses have been conducted with reference year 1986-87, 1993-94, 2000-01, 2006-07 and 2013-14 respectively. 

About Minor Irrigation Scheme:

• Irrigation schemes using either groundwater or surface water and having a Culturable Command Area upto 2000 hectare individually are categorized as Minor Irrigation Schemes. 
  • Cultivable Command Area (CCA): The area which can be irrigated from a scheme and is fit for cultivation.
• Implementation: Minor Irrigation schemes, in general, are formulated, planned, investigated and implemented by the farmers, NGOs, Panchayats, State Governments and Union Territories. 
• Short Gestation Period: They have a very short gestation period, produce quick outcomes and should be accorded priority in investment decisions.

Key Highlights of 6th Census Report:

• Minor Irrigation (MI) scheme: 23.14 million MI schemes have been reported in the country, out of which 21.93 million (94.8%) are Ground Water (GW) and 1.21 million (5.2%) are Surface Water (SW) schemes. 
  • There has been an increase of about 1.42 million in MI schemes during 6th MI census as compared to 5th Census.
• Ownership: A majority of MI schemes (96.6%) are under private ownership. 
• Leading States: Uttar Pradesh possesses the largest number of MI schemes in the country followed by Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.
• Categorisation: Dug-wells have the highest share in MI schemes followed by shallow tube-wells, medium tube-wells and deep tube-wells.
  • Maharashtra is the leading State in dug-wells, surface flow and surface lift schemes. 
  • Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka and Punjab are the leading States in shallow tube-wells, medium tube-wells and deep tube-wells, respectively.

• Ground Water (GW) scheme Leading States:  Leading States in GW schemes are Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Telangana. 
  • GW schemes comprise dugwells, shallow tube wells, medium tube wells and deep tube wells. 

• • In GW schemes, the share of private entities in the ownership is 98.3%.
• Surface Water (SW) scheme Leading States: In SW schemes Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana, Odisha and Jharkhand have the highest share. 
  • The SW schemes comprise surface flow and surface lift schemes.
  • In SW schemes the respective share is 64.2%.
• Significance: The database of Minor Irrigation census  will serve the planning, development and management needs of these schemes which contribute to agriculture in a big way.

Challenges For Irrigation In India:

• Uneven rainfall distribution: In India, rainfall varies from less than 100 mm in western Rajasthan to more than 2500 mm in the northeast region of the country (CWC, 2017). So in areas with deficient rains, the utility of minor irrigation becomes limited.
• Poor irrigation efficiency: Inadequate off-farm and on-farm infrastructures and poor maintenance leads to poor irrigation efficiency e.g. unlined canal and farm channels. 
  • For Example: Overall, average irrigation efficiency is observed as 38 per cent, which is much below desired efficiency. 
• Legal and Regulatory Challenges: Complex land ownership patterns, water rights, and regulatory hurdles can hinder the efficient development and management of minor irrigation projects.
• Inter-State Water Disputes: Disputes over the sharing of river waters among states can disrupt irrigation plans and lead to legal battles.
• Energy Costs: The energy costs associated with pumping groundwater for minor irrigation can be a significant financial burden on farmers, particularly small and marginal ones. 
  • Access to affordable and reliable energy sources for irrigation is a pressing issue.
• Uneven Distribution of  minor irrigation infrastructure: The availability and distribution of minor irrigation infrastructure are uneven across different states and regions, leading to disparities in agricultural productivity and income.

Significance of Minor Irrigation:

• Livelihoods Opportunity: Minor Irrigation plays an important role in the development of agriculture and livelihoods particularly in drought prone areas and areas outside command of Major and Medium projects.
• Enhanced Agricultural Productivity: Minor irrigation systems, which include tube wells, bore wells, tanks, and small reservoirs, provide farmers with a reliable source of water for their crops which enhances agricultural productivity.
• Crop Diversification: Minor irrigation facilitates crop diversification by enabling farmers to cultivate multiple crops throughout the year, including cash crops and high-value horticultural crops. 
  • This diversification can lead to increased income for farmers.
• Livelihood Support: A significant portion of India’s population depends on agriculture for their livelihood. 
  • Minor irrigation systems empower small and marginal farmers by offering them the means to cultivate their land effectively and generate income.

Way Forward:

• Upgrade in Infrastructure: Irrigation infrastructure needs to be further improved to harvest rainwater and increase storage capacity in order to utilize runoff water. 
• Modernization and Maintenance: Investing in the modernization and regular maintenance of existing minor irrigation infrastructure to improve efficiency and reduce losses.
• Energy Access: Ensuring affordable and reliable energy sources for irrigation, such as solar-powered pumps.
• Community Participation: Involving local communities and farmers in the planning and management of minor irrigation systems to ensure their sustainability and equitable distribution.
• Awareness about Government Schemes: Farmers should be made aware of the various government schemes to utilize their utmost potential which minor irrigation offers which is lacking in some states.      

News Source: PIB