Question

What are the reasons that necessitate artificial irrigation?
Or
What is the importance of irrigation?

Answer 1

Artificial irrigation has to be resorted to for the following reasons:
(i) Indian rainfall is periodic. Most of the rainfalls is in four months from June to September. The remaining eight months are dry.
(ii) Rainfall is not well distributed during the rainy season. During the four months of the
monsoon, there are spells of dry weather. There are regions where the rainfall is scanty, e.g., Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, the interior parts of Peninsular Plateau get much less rain than is required.
(iii) Agricultural crops are varied. The requirements of water varies for different crops. Rice requires heavy rain. Sugarcane, tobacco, vegetables also require regular and abundant supply of water.
(iv) Ample supply of water is required during the period of growth.
(v) India is a hot country. Evaporation is rapid.
(vi) Drought conditions. In India droughts commonly occur. This becomes a problem not only for agriculture but also the economy of the entire country.