Structure and performance of irrigation system management in odisha

Abstract

Ensuring food security for the growing population requires an additional supply of food grains, which is only possible by increasing agricultural productivity from the limited cultivable land at the disposal of humanity. Improved water management constitutes to be a significant driver in this end. Improved water management impliesirrigation system management.Irrigation process is facilitated by irrigation system. Irrigation is defined as controlled way of carrying water from its source through man made irrigation systems to meet the water requirements of agriculture when an agricultural field does not get enough water for plant growth.As water is a precious resource and agriculture sector massively requires available water in terms of irrigation, the irrigation systems should be managed most efficiently. An irrigation system is said to be a technical synthesis of water management and agriculture which is realised through the transportation of water from a particular water source to one agricultural field requiring water support. Thus, the economics of irrigation systems has a close resemblance to the economics of water management and management of agriculture. As a matter of fact, for the best irrigation facilities for the agriculture sector, there should be careful management of irrigation systems. Shanan (1987) defines irrigation as the application of water to the crop land for the purpose of supporting essential moisture necessary for the growth of crops. 1Any discussion on irrigation simultaneously involves irrigation systems and irrigation management.