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Small‐scale surface (tank) irrigation in Asia
Author(s) -
Palanisami K.,
Easter K. William
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
water resources research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.863
H-Index - 217
eISSN - 1944-7973
pISSN - 0043-1397
DOI - 10.1029/wr023i005p00774
Subject(s) - irrigation , incentive , investment (military) , water resource management , irrigation statistics , low flow irrigation systems , business , environmental engineering , environmental science , environmental planning , natural resource economics , irrigation management , deficit irrigation , economics , political science , biology , politics , ecology , law , microeconomics
Tank irrigation is an ancient tradition in Asia which is now being reviewed as a potential model for future irrigation expansion. South India has thousands of tanks which are in need of rehabilitation after being in operation for over a century. This study evaluates tank irrigation in an area of south India which has the greatest concentration of tanks. Constraints and unique characteristics of tank irrigation are analyzed to provide a basis for devising strategies for improving tank irrigation. A combination of public and private investments along with institutional changes are recommended to help farmers organize to improve irrigation. Yet, only if public investment is carefully integrated with existing private efforts will farmers have incentives to maintain the irrigation systems.