Scope and Feasibility of Enhancing the Irrigation Potential of the Kukadi Canal Command of Maharashtra, India

Abstract

Improving water use efficiency (WUE) in canal irrigation systems is vital for increasing agricultural output and maintaining ecological sustainability. Studies carried out in the Sina and Kukadi Left Bank Canal (KLBC) networks of Maharashtra, India, revealed marked disparities in the efficiency of the economic use of irrigation water. Investigations undertaken using geospatial tools highlighted a larger water influence zone (WIZ) in these systems, a factor often overlooked in conventional irrigation management. This finding led to the possibility of increasing the WUE by 113%, land productivity by 90% and EWP by 26% in KLBC, demonstrating the potential for optimising water resources and improving crop productivity. Additionally, the adoption of climate‐resilient and water‐efficient crop varieties resulted in a potential net value of output (NVOUP) increase of 80% in the KLBC irrigation system. These results emphasised the need for a comprehensive approach to irrigation water management that incorporates a detailed assessment of WIZ, conjunctive water use and sustainable cropping patterns. Such measures will not only improve water use efficiency but also contribute to a more sustainable and economically viable agricultural landscape in canal ecosystems.

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