Impact of micro irrigation on cropping pattern in Marathwada region

Agriculture is not only an important occupation of the Indian people, but also the way of life, culture and custom. In India, agriculture sector the largest user of water, is constantly facing an acute shortage of surface, as well as underground water. Therefore, it is needful to judicious use of the available water resources in India. Micro Irrigation is a newly introduced system in the country and little work has been done on application and evaluation of micro irrigation for some major crops like sugar cane, banana, fruits, vegetables and cotton. This irrigation system considered as the best in bringing about water and fertilizer use efficiency along with improved crop productivity. The drip irrigation is becoming increasingly popular in regions of water scarcity. The present investigation was carried out the impact of micro irrigation on cropping pattern. It was found that, the increased use of drip irrigation for cotton & sugar cane and sprinkler system for cereals and pulses in Marathwada region. It means the cropping pattern of this region is changing from traditional crops to cash crops. The drip irrigation is useful for cultivation of land in this region.