Irrigation Water Management

The basic dynamic of irrigation development in India are changing. In the past there has been sufficient water and land available to expand the irrigation area. There is no longer the case, with both good quality land and adequate water now constraining further development in many states. Many states are now entering a period of verticals integration, where better management of existing irrigation systems rather than construction of new schemes predominate. This transition will require new skills and expertise within Irrigation Development if they are to meet the current and upcoming challenges.
Water measurement and quantification, participatory irrigation management, conjunctive use of surface and ground water, integrated water resources management, modernization of irrigation system, demand based delivery of irrigation water, large scale promotion of water saving crop production technologies, expansion of micro irrigation into canal command areas are some of he areas identified for sustainable management of irrigation water.
Water Management Under Scare Conditions: The valuable management practices of each project during scare water conditions need to be recorded. Lessons can be learnt from each experiences for dealing water scare situations. The state of Andhara Pradesh  has managed scare water situations in Godavari and Krishna Delta successfully and also improved productivity.