Question

Give reasons for the following.

Give three reasons that justify the fact that there is ever growing need for various methods of irrigation in India.

Answer 1

1. Erratic and Seasonal Monsoon Rainfall: A four-month monsoon season accounts for over 80% of India's total yearly rainfall. This rainfall is highly irregular, unevenly distributed, and prone to protracted dry spells, necessitating artificial irrigation to prevent crop loss.
2. Requirement for Multi-Cropping: Multi-cropping is required because of India's large population, which creates a constant, high demand for food production. Farmers must grow multiple crops throughout the year to maximise land yield, which is impossible to do without a consistent, artificial water supply during the dry winter and summer months.
3. Adoption of Water-Intensive Crops and HYV Seeds: Modern agriculture practices rely heavily on HYV seeds and artificial fertilizers. These modern inputs are extremely sensitive and require a precise, timely, and consistent supply of water to produce effective harvests, which natural rainfall cannot guarantee.