Home / Current Issue / Paper 1723186
Recent Trends in Minor Irrigation in Indian Agriculture: Emerging Patterns, Policy Initiatives and Sustainability Challenges
Subject area: Agriculture and Veterinary Sciences · Area of research: Minor Irrigation in Indian Agriculture
Abstract
Minor irrigation has emerged as a critical component of agricultural development in India, particularly because of its decentralized nature and strong dependence on groundwater resources. This study examines the recent trends, structural transformation, policy developments and sustainability challenges in India’s minor irrigation sector. The study is descriptive and analytical in nature and is based exclusively on secondary data obtained from the Sixth Minor Irrigation Census, Central Ground Water Board, Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Ministry of Jal Shakti, NABARD and related government reports. The findings indicate that India had 23.14 million minor irrigation schemes, of which 94.8 per cent were groundwater-based, demonstrating the dominant role of decentralized groundwater irrigation. Wells and tube wells together accounted for approximately 62.8 per cent of the country’s net irrigated area in 2022–23. At the same time, irrigation development is increasingly shifting towards efficient water-use technologies, particularly drip and sprinkler irrigation. The coverage under the Per Drop More Crop programme reached 114.60 lakh hectares by May 2026, reflecting growing policy emphasis on water-use efficiency. However, increasing groundwater dependence presents significant sustainability concerns. Agriculture accounted for 87 per cent of total groundwater extraction in 2024, while 751 groundwater assessment units were classified as over-exploited. The study also highlights the growing importance of groundwater recharge, restoration of traditional water bodies, renewable-energy-based irrigation and participatory groundwater governance. It concludes that the future development of minor irrigation requires a shift from merely expanding irrigation infrastructure towards improving water productivity, strengthening aquifer management, promoting micro-irrigation, encouraging water-saving cropping patterns and ensuring equitable access to irrigation technologies. Such an integrated approach is essential for maintaining agricultural productivity while addressing the long-term ecological and hydrological challenges associated with irrigation development in India.
Keywords
minor irrigation, groundwater, micro-irrigation, water-use efficiency, groundwater management, agricultural development
References
[1] Central Ground Water Board (CGWB). (2025). National Compilation on Dynamic Ground Water Resources of India, 2024. Ministry of Jal Shakti, Government of India. CGWB
[2] Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare. (2025). Annual Report 2024–25. Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Government of India.
[3] Department of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation. (2023). Sixth Census of Minor Irrigation Schemes. Ministry of Jal Shakti, Government of India.
[4] Ministry of Jal Shakti. (2023). Ministry of Jal Shakti Releases the 6th Census Report on Minor Irrigation Schemes. Press Information Bureau, Government of India. Press Information Bureau
[5] Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare. (2023). Per Drop More Crop. Press Information Bureau, Government of India. Press Information Bureau
[6] Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare. (2024). Micro Irrigation: State-wise Area Covered under Micro Irrigation through PDMC. Press Information Bureau, Government of India. Press Information Bureau
[7] Ministry of Jal Shakti. (2022–23). Annual Report 2022–23. Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, Government of India.
[8] NABARD. (2025). Micro Irrigation Fund. National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development. NABARD
[9] Ministry of Jal Shakti. (2025). Irrigation Census: Seventh Minor Irrigation Census and Second Census of Water Bodies. Government of India.
[10] Press Information Bureau. (2026). Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana and Micro-Irrigation Progress. Government of India.
How to cite this paper
@article{1723186,
author = {Dr. Nizamuddin},
title = {Recent Trends in Minor Irrigation in Indian Agriculture: Emerging Patterns, Policy Initiatives and Sustainability Challenges},
journal = {Iconic Research And Engineering Journals},
year = {2026},
volume = {10},
number = {2},
pages = {3760-3766},
issn = {2456-8880},
url = {https://www.irejournals.com/formatedpaper/1723186.pdf},
abstract = {Minor irrigation has emerged as a critical component of agricultural development in India, particularly because of its decentralized nature and strong dependence on groundwater resources. This study examines the recent trends, structural transformation, policy developments and sustainability challenges in India’s minor irrigation sector. The study is descriptive and analytical in nature and is based exclusively on secondary data obtained from the Sixth Minor Irrigation Census, Central Ground Water Board, Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Ministry of Jal Shakti, NABARD and related government reports. The findings indicate that India had 23.14 million minor irrigation schemes, of which 94.8 per cent were groundwater-based, demonstrating the dominant role of decentralized groundwater irrigation. Wells and tube wells together accounted for approximately 62.8 per cent of the country’s net irrigated area in 2022–23. At the same time, irrigation development is increasingly shifting towards efficient water-use technologies, particularly drip and sprinkler irrigation. The coverage under the Per Drop More Crop programme reached 114.60 lakh hectares by May 2026, reflecting growing policy emphasis on water-use efficiency. However, increasing groundwater dependence presents significant sustainability concerns. Agriculture accounted for 87 per cent of total groundwater extraction in 2024, while 751 groundwater assessment units were classified as over-exploited. The study also highlights the growing importance of groundwater recharge, restoration of traditional water bodies, renewable-energy-based irrigation and participatory groundwater governance. It concludes that the future development of minor irrigation requires a shift from merely expanding irrigation infrastructure towards improving water productivity, strengthening aquifer management, promoting micro-irrigation, encouraging water-saving cropping patterns and ensuring equitable access to irrigation technologies. Such an integrated approach is essential for maintaining agricultural productivity while addressing the long-term ecological and hydrological challenges associated with irrigation development in India.},
keywords = {minor irrigation, groundwater, micro-irrigation, water-use efficiency, groundwater management, agricultural development},
month = {August},
}