Irrigation

Featured Articles
August 10, 2022
Taming water - Irrigation and drought protection in colonial India and the present
The irrigation at all costs mindset and narrow policies for drought protection during the colonial rule ignored rainfed agriculture and local practices that sustained agriculture in the Bombay Deccan. This continues even today.
Recurrent droughts and the struggle for survival (Image Source: Gaurav Bhosale via Wikimedia Commons):
August 9, 2022
MGNREGS becoming the quintessential scheme for tribal agriculture
Ensuring irrigation through farm ponds in tribal Chhattisgarh
Many tribal farmers opted for individual farm ponds under MGNREGA ensuring protective irrigation. (Image: Meenakshi Singh)
April 8, 2022
Water for all, still a dream?
Lack of governance and six toothless irrigation acts have done very little to change the water situation on the ground in Maharashtra, argues water expert Pradeep Purandare.
Peanut irrigation in India (Image Source: Seratobikiba via Wikimedia Commons)
March 11, 2022
Making every drop count: Micro-irrigation for tribal farmers of Gujarat
Subsidies enable tribal farmers to adopt micro-irrigation systems providing them assured irrigation
A key mitigation strategy to deal with water scarcity due to climate change is on-farm management of water using techniques like micro-irrigation (Image: India Water Portal Flickr)
September 17, 2021
Villagers’ shramdaan revives canal, enhances area under cultivation
Benefits of well-managed commons on livelihoods
Collective efforts revived the canal structure of Bichhiya dam bringing water to the village (Image: Foundation for Ecological Security)
August 29, 2021
Diversion-based irrigation systems
Experience of Aga Khan Rural Support Programme (India) in revitalizing the traditional phad irrigation system in hilly tribal villages of Western Madhya Pradesh
Community members contribute voluntary labour required for laying the pipeline network and tank construction (Image: Anjali Aggarwal)
Harvesting and using rainwater, a must in Bengaluru
Policy matters this fortnight
Swati Bansal
Posted on 23 Sep, 2021 12:24 PM

State government makes harvesting and using of rainwater a must in Bengaluru
Rainwater harvesting installed in a house (Source: IWP Flickr photos)
Villagers’ shramdaan revives canal, enhances area under cultivation
Benefits of well-managed commons on livelihoods
Nivedita Menon
Posted on 17 Sep, 2021 10:38 PM

The village of Urdali is a predominantly rain-fed area, belonging to the Deelwara Gram Panchayat, in Bichhiya Block, Mandla District, Madhya Pradesh.
Collective efforts revived the canal structure of Bichhiya dam bringing water to the village (Image: Foundation for Ecological Security)
Northeastern states witness highest rates of desertification
News this fortnight
Swati Bansal
Posted on 08 Sep, 2021 09:35 PM

Desertification is accelerating in several northeastern Indian states
Loss of green cover is increasing in the country (Image source: IWP Flickr photos)
Kudrati kheti (natural farming) - A manual in Hindi
Farming the natural way - going back to the age old traditions and practices
Rajinder Chaudhary
Posted on 01 Sep, 2021 05:04 PM

This manual (third edition) in Hindi developed by Rajinder Chaudhary on natural farming, also known as organic, zero budget or alternative farming, is an attempt to spread awareness among Indian farmers about the above sustainable agriculture methods.
Diversion-based irrigation systems
Experience of Aga Khan Rural Support Programme (India) in revitalizing the traditional phad irrigation system in hilly tribal villages of Western Madhya Pradesh
Anjali Aggarwal
Posted on 29 Aug, 2021 06:59 PM

For centuries, communities in undulating, hilly and mountainous regions have been using gravity flow water systems for drinking water and irrigation purposes.
Community members contribute voluntary labour required for laying the pipeline network and tank construction (Image: Anjali Aggarwal)
Participatory irrigation management brings water back to communities
A case study that documents canal repair experiences and showcases strategy approaches and lessons from the field.
Suraj Mondal
Posted on 27 Aug, 2021 02:59 PM

​This case study documents the experiences of Canal Repairing of Pawla MI Tank in Nandurbar district of Maharashtra. It highlights the approach strategies applied by the Development Support Centre (DSC) and the lessons learnt from field implementation.
Evening Dialogue on Community Governance on Canal Irrigation Management (Source: Development Support Center)
World Bank to provide $250 million to ensure dam safety in India
Policy matters this fortnight
Swati Bansal
Posted on 10 Aug, 2021 07:04 AM

World Bank will provide $250 million for dam safety in India
Malampuzha dam in Kerala (Image source: IWP Flickr Photos)
Crop diversification to address the water crisis in Punjab
While borewells and aggressive irrigation practices continue to suck Punjab dry, can crop diversification rescue the state from turning into a desert?
Shruti Bhogal
Kamal Vatta
Posted on 25 May, 2021 04:48 PM

Punjab, sucked dry
Unsustainable agricultural practices in Punjab (Image Source: IWP flickr photos)
Will Andhra Pradesh’s free bore well scheme deplete groundwater?
Under the YSR Jalakala scheme, the Andhra Pradesh government will dig free bore wells to provide small and marginal farmers access to water.
Sahith Goverdhanam
R Sai Shiva Jayanth
Posted on 10 Apr, 2021 09:40 AM

Government policies usually have multiple objectives such as reducing poverty and inequality, contributing to development, and so on. Most of these policies are influenced by a host of socio-economic factors, the internal political environment, and best practices, among others.
Groundwater depletion, a growing problem in India (Image Source: India Water Portal)
Are solar powered irrigation systems scalable in India?
Compendium on solar-powered irrigation in India
Paresh B Shirsath
Sakshi Saini
Neha Durga
Diego Senoner
Nilanjan Ghose
Shilp Verma
Alok Sikka
Posted on 20 Mar, 2021 09:38 AM

Article by: Sakshi Saini and Paresh B Shirsath
Solar power has huge potential for application in the agriculture sector, especially in the irrigation space. (Image: IWMI)
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