Irrigation and Intensive use of Manpower in Agricultural Sector: A Case Study of Farming Group in Northern Region of Rural Bengal

Abstract

Irrigation and agricultural activities are positively correlated in India due to irregular, inadequate and uncertain rainfall during the agricultural seasons. Irrigation is regarded as an important input of agricultural activities and it plays the most crucial role in raising productivity of land by increasing land use intensity in one hand and labour use intensity on the other in agricultural farming. In the New Agricultural System, fertilizers, HYV seeds, use of technology, mechanization are closely based on the availability of proper and regular irrigational facilities.  The regions of different states like, Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh etc. which had succeeded in producing desired outputs for different crops during the Green Revolution period were linked very closely with the development of irrigational facilities. The successful transformation and expansion of agriculture with improved crop varieties can take place when constant supply of water is ensured. At present, agricultural production is influenced by physical, climatological, social-economic, and technological and organizational factors, farmers attitude, etc. but the availability of irrigation facilities is the most important determinant of the agricultural productivity and the variety of crops. Without proper irrigational facilities very little can be expected from extensive cultivation.   The problem of low agricultural productivity in different regions of India can also be tackled successfully by improving farm activities linked with irrigational facilities.

 Keywords: Agricultural Activity, Irrigation, Land Use Intensity, Labour Use Intensity, Green Revolution.