Protective irrigation
Topic: Land Use, Farming Systems and Cropping Seasons in India · NCERT: Class 12, Ch 3 "Land Resources and Agriculture"; Class 12, Ch 6 "Planning and Sustainable Development in Indian Context"
Meaning
Protective irrigation adds to rainfall so that crops do not fail when the rain is not enough. Its aim is to protect crops, not to get the highest yield. So it spreads limited water over the widest possible area, giving many farmers a little water each. It suits dry, rainfed regions where water is scarce.
Example
Stage I of the Indira Gandhi Canal in western Rajasthan was planned as protective irrigation, to save crops across a large dry area. The "Har Khet Ko Pani" (water for every field) aim of PMKSY follows the same idea.
Don't confuse with
- Productive irrigation: gives enough water through the whole season for high yields. It uses more water per hectare on a smaller area.