How irrigation can help small-scale farmers

Irrigation has resulted in significant crop yield improvement across the globe. In some regions, irrigation is essential for successful crop production; however, it remains out of reach for many small-scale farmers. Janine Ryan reports.

- Janine Ryan

Irrigation has been instrumental in helping farmers worldwide increase their crop yields through various means. This is because irrigation can provide producers with consistent water supply, which may be absent during unfavourable weather conditions.

This consistent supply leads to an increase in crop yields. Irrigation ensures a reliable and consistent water supply, reducing dependence on erratic rainfall patterns. This stability allows crops to grow more predictably and robustly, leading to higher yields.

With irrigation, farmers can also extend their growing seasons beyond the traditional rainy season, allowing for multiple cropping cycles per year. This can significantly increase the annual output of crops.

Irrigation also allows for improved water efficiency, helping farmers conserve water and even save on related costs. While it remains difficult for some smaller farmers to adopt irrigation techniques and technologies, there are some that have done so successfully. In countries like India and China, this adoption has been particularly successful.

INDIA

India has a long history of irrigation, with some literature claiming that farmers in the country were using irrigation as far back as the 12th century. However, the adoption of modern irrigation technology has been somewhat slow in India. Despite this, the country has made great strides since the 2000s to adopt modern techniques and technologies, much to the benefit of its small-scale farmers, particularly in states like Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.

In the 1950s and 1960s, the Indian government launched several initiatives to improve irrigation infrastructure as part of its fiveyear plan. Major irrigation projects, including the construction of dams and canals like the Bhakra Nangal Dam and the Hirakud Dam, were undertaken during this period to enhance water availability for agriculture.