Irrigation Systems in AgricultureIrrigation Systems in Agriculture

Uttar Pradesh relies heavily on groundwater and canal networks due to its vast fertile plains and perennial rivers.

• Tube Wells and Groundwater (नलकूप और भूजल): Tube wells constitute the largest source of irrigation in Uttar Pradesh, accounting for nearly 74-75% of the total net irrigated area. Western UP districts have the highest concentration of private tube wells.
• Canal Irrigation (नहरी सिंचाई): Canals are the second largest source of irrigation in UP, covering around 18-20% of the net irrigated area. UP possesses one of the largest canal networks in India, maintained by the state irrigation department.
• Wells and Ponds (कुएं और तालाब): Traditional masonry wells and tanks/ponds account for a minor share (around 3-5%) of irrigation, predominantly prevalent in the rocky terrain of southern Bundelkhand region where tube well construction is difficult.
• Other Sources (अन्य स्रोत): Lift irrigation, check dams, and pumping sets installed on rivers/streams contribute to marginal irrigation in plateau and undulating regions.

The Gangetic river system feeds multiple monumental canals that irrigate vast agricultural tracts across UP.

• Upper Ganga Canal (ऊपरी गंगा नहर): Take-off point is Bhimgoda Barrage near Haridwar (Uttarakhand). Opened in 1854, it irrigates Saharanpur, Muzaffarnagar, Meerut, Bulandshahr, Aligarh, and Mathura.
• Lower Ganga Canal (निचली गंगा नहर): Originates from Narora (Bulandshahr) on the Ganga River, commissioned in 1878, serving districts like Aligarh, Etah, Farrukhabad, Kanpur, and Fatehpur.
• Sharda Canal System (शारदा नहर प्रणाली): The largest canal system in Uttar Pradesh, originating from Banbassa on the Sarda River (near Indo-Nepal border). It has an extensive network serving Rohilkhand and central UP districts.
• Eastern Yamuna Canal (पूर्वी यमुना नहर): One of the oldest canals, originating from the Yamuna River at Faizlabad (Tajewala headworks), irrigating Saharanpur, Muzaffarnagar, and Meerut districts.
• Ken Canal System in Bundelkhand (केन नहर प्रणाली): Originates from the Ken River at Panna (Madhya Pradesh) and extends into Banda district of UP, acting as a lifeline for drought-prone Bundelkhand.

Shifting from flood irrigation to micro-irrigation is vital for sustainable groundwater management in water-stressed zones.

• Drip Irrigation (ड्रिप सिंचाई): Delivers water drop-by-drop directly to the plant roots via a network of valves, pipes, and emitters. It achieves water use efficiency of up to 90% and reduces weed growth.
• Sprinkler Irrigation (स्प्रिंकलर सिंचाई): Simulates natural rainfall by spraying water under pressure through overhead nozzles. Highly effective for undulating terrains and sandy soils where flood irrigation causes soil erosion.
• Micro Irrigation Fund (MIF): Established with NABARD under PMKSY with an initial corpus of ₹5,000 crore to facilitate states in mobilizing resources for expanding micro-irrigation coverage.
• Per Drop More Crop Component: A key pillar of PMKSY focusing on micro-irrigation adoption (drip/sprinkler), water-efficient agronomic practices, and capacity building of farmers.

Governance, water policy, and legal frameworks governing surface and groundwater use in Uttar Pradesh.

• Groundwater Extraction Regulation: The UP Ground Water Management and Regulation Act provides norms for sinking new tube wells, mandating registration in over-exploited and critical blocks to prevent aquifer depletion.
• Amrit Sarovar Mission: A nationwide campaign aiming to develop/rejuvenate 75 water bodies in each district of India to enhance rural water security and groundwater recharge.
• Khet Talab Yojana (Farm Pond Scheme): A UP government scheme providing financial subsidies to farmers in Bundelkhand and Vindhyan regions for constructing farm ponds to harvest rainwater for protective irrigation.