Sustainable Agriculture and of Irrigation Practices in India

Agriculture is the mainstay of Indian economy. The share of agriculture in terms of domestic product has come down to about 12 per cent in 2014–15, while its share in employment and providing livelihood is still quite considerable, as more than 50 per cent of the population depends on this sector. Thus, it becomes paramount to improve upon the status of agriculture in order to increase the income level and thereby the living standard of the rural population. In this sense, stable growth of agriculture possesses the key for a balanced and more inclusive growth of the economy. Stable growth of agriculture necessitates consistent growth of irrigation potential in the country, since the sector is still remaining a ‘gamble of monsoon’. In this chapter, the development of irrigation is analysed at both the national level and also in Tamil Nadu.