Irrigation System of Rajasthan

Introduction

• The total area of Rajasthan is 3,42,239 Sq. Km.
• Agriculture is the main occupation in Rajasthan.
• Agriculture production is mainly depends upon South-East monsoon rain.
• The rainfall behavour generally remains abnormal being irregular, unever and uncertain scanty with drought period and occasional local floods.
• Average rainfall- 58.64 Cms.
• The process of weathering and disintegration coupled with sunb-shine and insolatuion demand for the need of irrigation in state.
• The irrigation facilities available are neither equally distributed in the state nor fully dependable. Chambal, Banas, Mahi and all other rivers add prosperity to this region.
• There is need of judicious implementation of minor, medium and major irrigation schemes.

Sources of Irrigation:

1. Wells and Tube wells:
   • Wells and Tube well play an important role in agriculture in Rajasthan
   • Districts - Tonk, Alwar, Ajmer, Udaipur, Jaipur, Bhilwara & Jhunjhunu.
   • Out of total irrigated are 67.7% is irrigated by wells & tube wells in the eastern plains and South-Eastern plateau region where water table is very high ranging from 10 to 20 W.
   • Well irrigation has several advantages over canal irrigation in many areas.
   • The crop pattern is better developed in areas, irrigated by wells due to regular supply of water.
2. Tank Irrigation:
   • Tank irrigation facility is totally dependent on rainfall.
   • Districts - Bharatpur, Dholpur, Pali
   • All three districts accounts for more than 50% of the tank irrigated are in Rajasthan.
3. Canal Irrigation:
   • District - Ganganagar
   • In Ganganagar district all the irrigation is done by canals.
   • The temperature is high in Mewar plains which causes high
   • evaporation and rock stream does not provide natural reservoirs
   • All these factors result in lesser development of canals in this region