Question

How do you appreciate the irrigation systems used in the drought prone areas?

Answer 1

Hint: Irrigation techniques have been used for millennia by farmers to grow crops. These include areas with sufficient sources of water like rivers by making canals, as well as areas prone to drought where water storage in tanks becomes essential.

Complete answer:
Traditional methods of irrigation include manual irrigation where the farmer pulls water from a well himself, or uses animals like bulls to draw the water, and the method of digging canals from perennial sources of water to draw water to the fields. Being a country where agriculture is an occupation pursued by a large percentage of the population, and having regions prone to drought, using modern methods of irrigation is imperative.
Modern techniques include drip irrigation and sprinkler irrigation. Drip or trickle irrigation is a very efficient method of utilising and saving water. In this technique, water is dripped onto the soil at very low speeds directly to the plant, and prevents water loss through evaporation or runoff. Sprinkler irrigation can be through pipes running along the surface or underground, and water is pushed out at high pressures through sprinkler heads. There can be much more water loss from evaporation and run-off. In drought prone areas drip irrigation is the preferred technique. It can be controlled manually or through a programmable system. The exact amount of water can be decided according to the crop type.

Note: According to a study carried out in 2019, 42% of the country is facing drought. Providing sufficient water for farming and human need is essential. Wherever irrigation techniques have been well implemented, the effects of the droughts are naturally less acute.