OPTIMUM ALLOCATION OF DIFFERENT SOURCES OF IRRIGATION
Discovery of agriculture was no doubt the greatest development in the history of mankind. Irrigation, being one of the most crucial input in the process of agricultural development, has been sought to be developed. In India, although significant efforts have been made to develop the irrigation potential through major and minor irrigation, yet there has been rather inadequate awareness of the economics of irrigation. Particularly, very few comparable attempts have been made to examine the rational allocation of water between different regions, crops and over time. Most of the studies that have been made in this field, have examined the different sources of irrigation in isolation from one another. In the present study, it is intended to examine the different sources of irrigation in an integrated manner and thus provide a macro-prospective as a guide to formulation of rational policies for irrigation management. In the present study, it is proposed to study the allocation of water by regions and crops and also over time. An attempt will be made to draw out policy implications and make some specific recommendations.