Historical Development of Irrigated Agriculture under The Malaprabha Project, Karnataka, India

The present study analyses the historical development of irrigated agriculture in the command area of the Malaprabha irrigation project located in a semi-arid region of Karnataka, India. Considering the historical period from 1965 to 2014, spatio-temporal changes in irrigated area, cropping patterns, crop and irrigation water requirements using CROPWAT model and sources of irrigation water were characterized relative to the pre-project period at decadal time-step. Overall results indicate an increase in irrigated area, departure from the planned cropping pattern and a shift towards cultivation of water-intensive cash crops, canal releases not conforming to estimated irrigation water requirements and an increase in groundwater-based irrigation in the command area of the project. The findings of this study can be used to formulate more effective management strategies to improve the efficiency of the project and promote sustainable development of natural resources.