Among the world’s largest consumers of water, India is at the top of the list for using most of the water for Agriculture. For the farmers in india, the good monsoon holds a good harvest. Besides the rainfall, India farmers mainly depend on the water from wells, rivers, canals, reservoirs, and springs to irrigate the fields.
Micro irrigation has been promoted by the Indian govt for many years to curb excessive water use in agriculture.
Micro Irrigation: The use of drippers, sprinklers, foggers, and other sources to irrigate the land on the below or surface is called micro-irrigation. The main and first part of the micro irrigation is the water supply, transporting the devices (motor and pump), emitters, ball valves, fertigation equipment, filters, control valves, and PVC joining accessories (main and sub-main). Under this technique, the water is spared closer to the root zone of the crop. The crop spacing finds out how the drippers are positioned.
Why is Micro Irrigation Important?
- By micro irrigation, the efficiency of the water is increased from 50% to 90%.
- There is an average of 32.3% and the water savings are between 30 and 50% as a comparison to flood irrigation.
- The less electricity is used.
- By the use of micro irrigation, the fertilizer costs are reduced.
- Because of this, the average production of fruits and vegetables is increased.
- By this, the farmer’s revenue increases.
Areas which covered into the Micro Irrigation through PDMC from 2015-16 to 2023-24
| S. No. | State/UT | Area covered under Micro Irrigation in hectares | % to total coverage in the Country |
| 1 | Andhra Pradesh | 919780 | 11.02 |
| 2 | Bihar | 28258 | 0.34 |
| 3 | Chhattisgarh | 148146 | 1.78 |
| 4 | Goa | 875 | 0.01 |
| 5 | Gujarat | 1087039 | 13.02 |
| 6 | Haryana | 168336 | 2.02 |
| 7 | Himachal Pra. | 12235 | 0.15 |
| 8 | Jharkhand | 34675 | 0.42 |
| 9 | Jammu & Kashmir | 1104 | 0.01 |
| 10 | Karnataka | 1801629 | 21.59 |
| 11 | Kerala | 5608 | 0.07 |
| 12 | Madhya Pradesh | 356091 | 4.27 |
| 13 | Maharashtra | 938089 | 11.24 |
| 14 | Odisha | 95475 | 1.14 |
| 15 | Punjab | 15173 | 0.18 |
| 16 | Rajasthan | 708193 | 8.49 |
| 17 | Tamil Nadu | 1097910 | 13.16 |
| 18 | Telangana | 326338 | 3.91 |
| 19 | Uttarakhand | 32257 | 0.39 |
| 20 | Uttar Pradesh | 355116 | 4.26 |
| 21 | West Bengal | 95964 | 1.15 |
| 22 | Arunachal Pradesh | 12442 | 0.15 |
| 23 | Assam | 44356 | 0.53 |
| 24 | Manipur | 15894 | 0.19 |
| 25 | Mizoram | 8559 | 0.10 |
| 26 | Nagaland | 19180 | 0.23 |
| 27 | Sikkim | 12971 | 0.16 |
| 28 | Tripura | 4145 | 0.05 |
| 29 | Ladakh | 3 | 0.000036 |
| Total | 8345840 |
Types of Micro Irrigation
Sprinkler Irrigation
- Water for irrigation is given by the use of the sprinkler irrigation system or apparatus. This mainly works into the pressure just like the rainfalls do them naturally.
- The water is used effectively by this irrigation technique. This guarantees that there is a rise in agricultural production.
- The irrigation tools employed include high-pressure sprinklers, sprays, and guns.
- By this, the plant gives a high amount of water to ensure healthy growth.
Drip Irrigation
- By drip irrigation, the water is given to the plant roots in the ground via emitters.
- To spread and maximize the pressure from the water supply, these emitters make use of the vents, twitters, and long.
- The last option is to plant the emitters deep under the earth or keep them on the ground.
Spray Irrigation
- One common method of delivering the water is by the jet spray.
- This can be moved into any size and it can be used to move the water lawns or crops on big farms.
Sub-surface Irrigation
- The water is supplied to the plants with the use of this system from below the surface of the soil. This microirrigation is advantageous and Effective.
- Low water pressure is required for it to work correctly.
- With this technology, the waste of the water is eliminated by delivering the water through tubes and pipelines which are concealed beneath the ground.
- Applying the water as per the size of the subsurface irrigation can be very effective and consistent.
- Subsurface irrigation reduces surface water stagnation, preventing weeds and illness.
Bubbler Irrigation
- This system will be set up in places where the water demand is high.
- It mainly gives 230 liters of water per hour through the fountains and little streams.
Benefits of Micro Irrigation
- Increased water use efficiency: With the help of micro irrigation, Seepage, and deep percolation losses as well the runoff, evaporation losses, and water transportation losses.
- Fertilizer Use Efficiency: The usage of fertilizers will be reduced by 28.5% with the use of direct fertilizer application to the root zone.
- Productivity gains: The Productivity gains for fruits and vegetables are projected to the 42.4% and 52.7%, respectively, and crop production (quantity and quality) is raised.
- Irrigation cost savings: With this technology, the overall irrigation cost will be reduced labor requirements for irrigation, weeding, and fertilizer application. The irrigation cost will get reduced upto the 31.9%.
- New Crop introduction: Because of the improvement in the water scenario, the farmers introduce new crops. Upto the 30.4% of the farmers are thought to do this. Intercropping and crop rotation are two practices that some farmers have tried.
Some affects of the Micro Irrigation
- The availability of water at the level of the farm is inadequate.
- The power source is not accessible.
- Incomplete attention to the country’s micro irrigation technology.
- The installation charges are high.
- Redeeming government subsidies for the micro irrigation installation is complicated.
Government Initiative for the Micro Irrigation:
- The micro irrigation was started by the govt in the Tenth Five Year Plan (2002-2007).
- To promote and spread this technology, the Central Government, State Governments, and a few NGOs have taken decisive action.
- The Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) made micro-irrigation a priority to improve the various water development and management operations by incrementing into irrigation coverage.
- This initiative gives the necessary financial aid for the adoption of micro-irrigation systems up to 55% for small and marginal farms and 45% for other farmers.
Conclusion
In Indian Agriculture, the micro irrigation importance in achieving sustainability cannot be highlighted much. To carry the Indian Population up to speed on microirrigation techniques, there is a need for massive training, awareness, and demonstration programs. The farmers are one of the most disadvantages segments in whole society.
FAQ:
Q: What is the micro irrigation?
Ans: The micro irrigation is the irrigation below or above the land by the use of the drippers, sprinklers, foggers, and other sources.
Q: What are benefits of the Micro Irrigation?
Ans: Irrigation cost savings, productivity grains and more.