Dynamics in Surface and Groundwater Irrigation Systems across Districts of Andhra Pradesh, India: An Economic Analysis

The study explores the district wise irrigation scenario of Andhra Pradesh state with special reference to net tank irrigated area that impacted net groundwater irrigation system in the state. The failure in improvement of tank irrigation due to rainfall, technical, physical and institutional factors gave tremendous scope to improvements in groundwater irrigation system of the state. The study is drawn purely from secondary data sources acquired from DES, Government of Andhra Pradesh. The study examines structural changes in district wise irrigation scenario of Andhra Pradesh state over past 5 decades i.e. from 1970 to 2020. Triennium averages are determined in calculating source wise, district wise irrigation scenario. Net irrigation patterns at the district level were investigated using average and percentage analyses, as well as a tank irrigation scenario. To analyze the trends in district’s irrigation water sources over five decades (1970-2020), compound annual growth rate has been estimated by dividing the entire period into two phases of 25 years each i.e. Phase I (TE 1970 – 94) and Phase – II (1995 – 2020). Net canal irrigated area is found to be dominant in districts of Guntur, Krishna, East Godavari and West Godavari with 305, 189, 167 and 150 thousand hectares. Viziaganagaram registered to have highest net tank irrigated of 64 thousand hectares followed by Srikakulam with 51 thousand hectares, Nellore 41 thousand hectares and Visakahapatnam 20 thousand hectares. The overall increase in net groundwater irrigation was found to be highest in districts of West Godavari coupled with canal irrigation and Ananthapur, Chiittoor, Cuddapah and Kurnool districts during TE 2020-21. The districts Ananthapur, chittoor, Cuddapah have less chances of tank irrigation rehabilitation and reclamation as the net reduction is severe due to vagaries of climate. Proper maintenance and rehabilitation program may reclaim the tank irrigation in districts of Vizianagaram, Srikakulam, Visakahapatnam and Nellore.