Traditional Methods of Irrigation: Definition, Types & Examples
Over many millennia, India has been an agricultural country. Statistics suggest that more than 50% of the combined workforce is engaged in some form of agriculture. India is also one of the leading exporters of cereals, grains and dry fruits to several countries.
Despite these advantages, India has often faced hurdles in the form of low crop yield, untimely harvests, unpredictable monsoons and pest attacks. Most of these problems have been largely overcome by traditional methods of Irrigation.
These old Irrigation methods are not yet obsolete. Vast chunks of India’s farms use these methods to ensure proper seed germination, the better yield of crops and accelerated growth of food crops.
These conventional methods of Irrigation also waste less water and are environment-friendly.
What is the Traditional Method of Irrigation?
Such a method has been in use for many decades, sometimes even centuries, and offers cost-effectiveness and convenience over more modern methods.
In India, There are Four Traditional Methods of Irrigation
Check Basin Method
This method depends on water availability. The farming land is divided into a number of basins, each of which is connected via a mini-drain. Water is stored at the highest point of the land. From there, these drains originate. This form of traditional Irrigation has been around for centuries.
Check basin Irrigation is used mostly after monsoons when the basin is full. This type of inexpensive Irrigation also requires minimal maintenance or investment. Plus, it also guards against soil erosion.
Find out why soil erosion is so dangerous. You can also write short notes on such erosion and show them to your friends and teachers.
Strip Irrigation method
Here, the farmland is divided into a number of strips. Such strips are separated by a ‘med’, which means a boundary. The length of each strip depends on the land’s angle of slope plus the location of the reservoir. Such a method requires minimal investment and labour.
Note that strip Irrigation may not be compatible with all manners of crops.
Furrow Irrigation
Whenever crops are grown in rows, furrow Irrigation comes in handy. It is often used in horticulture. This type can also lead to better Irrigation of larger tracts of land. Agriculturists have stated that despite newer technologies like drip and sprinkler systems, furrow Irrigation remains the best bet among both traditional and modern methods of Irrigation.
This type has multiple sub-types including corrugated, contour and sloppy furrow. Each of these sub-types is specialized for certain kinds of crops or land types.
Basin Irrigation
This method of traditional Irrigation is not used for growing crops. Instead, it is used to irrigate rows of bushes and taller trees. A raised platform, usually made of clay or concrete, is created very close to where these trees are. Drains are then dug so that they can receive water.
The use of basin Irrigation is on the decline since there have been reports of too much water loss while irrigating smaller tracts.
What Are Some Types of Modern Irrigation?
In India, sprinkler, pot and drip Irrigation methods are rapidly being used to save resources while also ensuring a steady supply of water to arable land. While sprinkler systems originated in Western countries where groundwater levels were low, it has subsequently spread across the world due to its efficiency.
DIY task for advanced students: You can determine which of these traditional Irrigation methods consume or waste the maximum water. It is quite simple. Visit the official website of the Central Ministry of Agriculture; you will get detailed reports on how many hectares of land is currently under cultivation, and other related data including Irrigation method use.
This data will also help you create first-class traditional methods of Irrigation PPT.
What is the importance of Irrigation?
Irrigation is a necessary process for agriculture and farming. This is because as we know, the country's farmlands do not receive monsoon throughout the year. But plants require water during non-rainy seasons as well. Thus Irrigation helps to supply adequate water for their growth and sustenance.
Secondly, it facilitates farming practices in drought-prone regions of the country such as Rajasthan, parts of Gujarat (Kutch and Bhuj), etc. It also helps farmers in the colder northern regions such as Jammu as there is inadequate water supply (most of the water is in the form of glaciers).
Thirdly, a good and sustained supply of water throughout the year helps to maintain soil fertility and makes ploughing of the land easier.
Lastly, as we all know, with the growing population, India needs a high crop yield to sustain the needs of the people. Coupled with the green revolution, Irrigation serves this major purpose of farming in India.
In recent decades, governments have shifted their focus from building Irrigation dams to repairing the existing traditional Irrigation systems. In relation to this, a scheme on ‘Repair, Renovation and Restoration of water bodies for agriculture was launched in 2005 with the objective to improve and restore the selected tanks in 26 districts of 15 States. This is important because most of the traditional Irrigation systems have lost applicability due to being out of use and/ or lack of maintenance. The small rural farmers heavily rely on these systems and hence rebuilding them can help marginal farmers who can not afford modern equipment.
A comprehensive list of various Irrigation systems in various parts of India that have been in use traditionally
Irrigation techniques in India has been as diverse as the farming methods. In different parts of India, from north to south and east to west, the various traditional Irrigation methods are mentioned below:
To know more on aspects of Irrigation, visit Vedantu today. Download the Vedantu app to gain insights on topics allied to agriculture or any other chapter of Biology. You can also join live classes right away.
FAQs on Traditional Methods of Irrigation: Definition, Types & Examples
1. What is meant by traditional methods of irrigation?
Traditional methods of irrigation are age-old techniques for supplying water to agricultural fields that rely heavily on manual labour or animal power. These methods often use simple tools and draw water from sources like wells, lakes, and canals. They are generally less expensive to set up but can be less efficient in water usage compared to modern systems, as per the CBSE Class 8 syllabus for 2025-26.
2. What are the two main categories of traditional irrigation systems?
Traditional irrigation systems can be broadly divided into two main categories based on how they work:
- Water Lifting Systems: These systems are designed to lift water from a source like a well and deliver it to the fields. Common examples include the Moat (Pulley-system), Chain Pump, Dhekli (Lever-system), and Rahat (Persian Wheel).
- Surface Irrigation Systems: These methods involve distributing water across the surface of the land by gravity. Examples include Basin irrigation, Furrow irrigation, and Check basin irrigation.
3. How does the Rahat (Persian Wheel) system of irrigation work?
The Rahat system, also known as the Persian Wheel, is a traditional water-lifting device powered by animals like oxen or buffaloes. The animals walk in a circle, turning a large wheel. This wheel is connected to another wheel with a series of buckets attached to it, which is submerged in a water source. As the wheels rotate, the buckets collect water, lift it to the top, and then empty it into a channel that directs the water to the crop fields.
4. Can you explain how the Dhekli and Chain Pump systems work?
Certainly. Both are traditional water-lifting methods used for irrigation:
- Dhekli System: This is a lever-based system. A long wooden log is balanced on a forked post. A heavy counterweight, like a large stone, is tied to the shorter end, and a rope with a bucket is attached to the longer end over the well. The farmer uses the counterweight's force to help lift the water-filled bucket with less effort.
- Chain Pump System: This system consists of two large wheels connected by an endless chain. The bottom wheel is partially submerged in the water source. Buckets are attached to the chain. As the top wheel is turned, the chain moves, lifting the water-filled buckets, which then pour the water into an irrigation channel.
5. What are the main disadvantages of traditional irrigation methods?
While cost-effective to set up, traditional irrigation methods have several key disadvantages. Firstly, they often lead to significant water wastage due to evaporation and uneven distribution. Secondly, they are labour-intensive, requiring a lot of human or animal effort. Thirdly, their efficiency is low, making it difficult to irrigate large areas of land or support high-yield crops, which became a major limitation with the advent of the Green Revolution.
6. Why are traditional irrigation methods still used in some parts of India today?
Despite the efficiency of modern techniques, traditional methods remain relevant in certain contexts for a few key reasons. They have a very low initial setup cost and do not depend on electricity, which is a major advantage in remote or economically challenged areas. For small-scale farming, these methods are often sufficient and sustainable. Furthermore, they are built using locally available materials and rely on knowledge passed down through generations.
7. How did the geography of a region influence the choice of a specific traditional irrigation method?
The geography and water availability of a region were the most critical factors in determining which traditional irrigation method was used. For example:
- In regions with a high water table or nearby rivers, surface irrigation methods like basin or furrow irrigation were common.
- In areas where water was available only in deep wells, lifting systems like the Rahat (which can lift water from greater depths with animal power) or the Dhekli were essential.
- The type of soil also played a role; for instance, level fields with soil that absorbs water slowly are well-suited for check basin irrigation.
8. What are the key differences between traditional and modern irrigation methods?
The primary difference lies in efficiency, precision, and technology. Traditional methods like the Moat or Dhekli rely on manual/animal labour and gravity, often resulting in uneven water distribution and high water loss. In contrast, modern methods like sprinkler and drip irrigation use a network of pumps and pipes to deliver water directly to the plant's roots in a controlled and precise manner. This saves a tremendous amount of water, reduces labour, and significantly improves crop yield.
