Abstract
Water is the most essential input for the development of agriculture. However, its availability, in developing countries, for gainfull utilisation is limited. This calls for spreading irrigation to the benefit of the largest possible section of the farmers. A successful irrigation water delivery model must ensure equity among the beneficiaries or land-holding based allocation, their active participation, and its availability at right time and right place. In this context the performance of various models, as practised in India, has been reviewed. It is inferred that: a) water cooperatives or societies are not a success, b) volumetric system is not economically feasible, and c) warabandi model — as adopted in Northern India is the most suitable having been tested over a century. A few suggestions for further improvement in its structure have also been listed.
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Dhillon, G.S., Paul, T.C. Water delivery models for irrigation projects. Irrig Drainage Syst 2, 43–52 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01102751
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01102751