Infrastructural Factors in Indian Agriculture: irrigation, seeds, fertilizers, power

Introduction

Infrastructure plays a pivotal role in the growth and development of agriculture, acting as the backbone for irrigation, water management, power supply, and transportation. Effective infrastructure is essential for enhancing agricultural productivity, ensuring efficient use of resources, and supporting the livelihood of farmers. This article provides a detailed analysis of the key infrastructural factors in Indian agriculture, focusing on irrigation systems, power supply, and the challenges associated with them.

Irrigation in Indian Agriculture

What Is Irrigation?

Irrigation is the process of artificially supplying water to crops to support their growth and development. It is essential for sustaining agriculture, especially in regions with inconsistent rainfall patterns. Major sources of irrigation include:

• Canals
• Wells
• Tube-Wells
• Tanks

Importance of Irrigation

• Agricultural Dependency: Approximately 95% of surface water management is used for irrigation in India, making it a critical factor for the agricultural economy.
• Irrigation Potential: India’s ultimate irrigation potential is around 140 million hectares, assuming consistent availability of water and monsoon rains. Currently, about 100-110 million hectares of irrigation infrastructure have been developed.

Types of Irrigation Systems

1. Canal Irrigation

• Description: Canal irrigation involves diverting river water through canals to agricultural fields.
• Regions: Predominantly used in North India (Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan) and parts of South and Central India (Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka).
• Advantages: Effective for areas with deep fertile soils and a perennial water source.
• Challenges: High costs, maintenance difficulties, water losses due to seepage and evaporation (up to 30% efficiency), and environmental impacts like deforestation, land displacement, and reservoir-induced seismicity (RIS).

Key Canal Projects

• Upper Ganga Canal in Uttar Pradesh irrigates land in districts like Meerut, Ghaziabad, and Kanpur.
• Sirhind Canal in Punjab, originating from the Satluj river, irrigates around 7 lakh hectares in Sangrur, Patiala, and Bhatinda.
• Indira Gandhi Canal in Rajasthan, one of the longest canal projects, supports irrigation in desert areas.

2. Ground Water-Based Systems

• Includes: Tube wells and dug wells, drawing water directly from underground sources.
• Efficiency: Approximately 70% efficient, providing direct field application without the need for additional conveyance systems.
• Regions: Common in areas with ample groundwater availability but less reliable in the peninsular plateau due to limited groundwater potential.

3. Tanks and Micro Irrigation Systems

• Description: These include drip and sprinkler irrigation systems and traditional water harvesting practices.
• Efficiency: Highly efficient, with over 90% water use efficiency, but currently cover only 4-5% of the irrigated area.
• Advantages: Suitable for water-scarce regions, reduces water wastage, and ensures better crop yield.

Components of an Irrigation System

Every irrigation system requires three key components:

1. Storage Component: Reservoirs and dams for water storage.
2. Conveyance System: Canals or pipes that transport water to fields.
3. Water Application System: Field channels that distribute water to crops.

Challenges in Irrigation

• Monsoon Dependency: Over half of India’s cultivated area still relies on erratic monsoon rainfall, leading to spatial and temporal variations in water availability.
• Widening Gap: A significant gap exists between potential irrigation infrastructure created and its actual utilization, particularly in major and medium projects.
• Over-exploitation of Groundwater: Excessive use, especially in north-western regions, has led to rapid depletion of groundwater reserves.

Solutions for Effective Irrigation Management

1. Command Area Development Programme: Launched to encourage farmers to efficiently use water available from canals.
2. “Har Khet ko Pani” and “More Crop per Drop”: Initiatives to enhance water efficiency and ensure equitable distribution.
3. Inter-basin Water Transfer: Projects to transfer surplus water from flood-prone rivers to drought-prone regions, such as the Ken-Betwa Link Canal.

Power Supply in Agriculture

Importance of Power in Agriculture

• Mechanization: Indian agriculture is increasingly mechanized, requiring a regular supply of power for operations such as irrigation, plowing, and harvesting.
• Spatial Variations: There are significant regional differences in electricity consumption for agricultural purposes.

Issues in Power Supply

• Subsidized Electricity: Farmers receive heavily subsidized or even free electricity, leading to overuse and inefficiency.
• Electricity for Irrigation: Around 70% of agricultural land is rainfed, making electricity crucial for pumping groundwater, especially during dry seasons.

Feeder Separation

• What Is a Feeder? An electrical feeder is a system that runs power from a central source to distribution centers.
• Case Study – Gujarat’s Jyotigram Yojana (2006): This scheme successfully separated agricultural feeders from the main feeder, regulating electricity supply to farmers and ensuring continuous power to non-agricultural sectors.
• National Implementation: Based on its success, the Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana aims to separate feeders at a national level, with initial implementation in Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh.

Conclusion

Infrastructure is a key determinant of agricultural productivity and efficiency in India. Effective irrigation and power supply systems are essential for improving crop yields, reducing dependency on monsoons, and ensuring sustainable agricultural practices. However, challenges such as inadequate irrigation coverage, groundwater depletion, and power supply inefficiencies need to be addressed through innovative solutions, policy reforms, and technological advancements.

1. Discuss the role of irrigation infrastructure in enhancing agricultural productivity in India. How can the existing challenges be addressed to improve efficiency? (250 words)
2. Evaluate the impact of power supply on agricultural operations in India. How does the separation of feeders contribute to efficient power management for farmers? (250 words)
3. How can inter-basin water transfer projects address the issues of water scarcity and surplus in different regions of India? Analyze their potential benefits and challenges. (250 words)