ADVANTAGES
AND DISADVANTAGES OF IRRIGATION
Advantages
1.
Direct Benefits. These include (i) Increase in food
output through higher yield to attain self-sufficiency in food, (ii)
Cultivation of cash crops, (iii) With the introduction of irrigation land value
appreciates manifold which makes wealthy the land holders, the State and the
country, (iv) Growing of fruit trees and development of gardens, (v) Protection
from famine irrigation makes agriculture to towns and villages. Important
cities like Delhi, Jaipur, Bikaner and Chandigarh depend on canal water for
public water supply (viii) Hydel power generation at dam site and canal falls,
(ix) The rise in suboil water level in dry areas assists in meeting demands of
domestic water supply by pumping the ground water, (x) Means of communication
where navigation is possible in the canal. Network of canals with inspection
bank/boundary roads along them improve the communication in remote command
areas, (xi) Means of communication where navigation is possible in the canal.
Network of canals with inspection bank/boundary roads along them improve the
communication in remote command areas, (xi) Revenue from recreation facilities
such as boating, fishing and swimming. (xii) Fish and wild life preservation
and development of pisciculture, (xiii) Afforestation plantation is raised
along the banks of canals and field boundaries, (xiv) Irrigation substantially
lowers production risks and farmers are greatly encouraged to raise
productivity through input intensification, (xv) Makes agriculture competitive
and profitable, (xvi) Industrial and thermal plant requirements are met with
from canal water, (xvii) The reduced risk of crops failures and increased food
production, (xviii) Improve the nutrition of the people and cattle considerably
which leads to increased resistance to diseases and hence improved health.
II.
Indirect Benefits: These are (i) Increase in gross domestic
product of the country, (ii) Increase in revenue from sales tax on food
grains, (iii) Increase in employment. Retards migration to cities for
livelihood, (iv) Improvement in groundwater storage, (v) Increased revenue to
government from other departments such as custom, excise, posts and telegraph,
railways, taxes on vehicles etc. (vi) Increase in value of land property (vii)
General development of country, (viii) Farm laborers are benefited who get
higher wages, (ix) creation of more jobs and incomes, and (x) Rise to whole
array of agro- based industries.
Disadvantages:
(i)
Climate becomes dam and cold, causing malarial diseases, (ii) Over irrigation
coupled with poor drainage in an areas where-table is high leads to water
logging of the area; and causes efflorescence. Crop yield is drastically
reduced as a result, (iii) Low land revenue in certain cases where irrigation
is extended as a protective measure, and (iv) Excessive seepage from unlined
canals leads to waterlogging of lands adjacent to canals.
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