Efficient irrigation practices are crucial for enhancing agricultural productivity and ensuring long-term sustainability, particularly in semi-arid regions. Ahilyanagar district in Maharashtra has experienced considerable changes in irrigation infrastructure over recent decades, including the development of canals, water harvesting structures, and modern micro-irrigation systems. This study examines the effect of these irrigation transformations on agricultural sustainability using statistical techniques. Data were gathered from government records, district agricultural reports, and remote sensing datasets. Correlation, regression, and time-series analyses were applied to assess the relationship between irrigation expansion and key agricultural indicators such as crop yield, water-use efficiency, and land productivity. Findings indicate that increased irrigation coverage has significantly improved agricultural output and stability, though challenges such as groundwater depletion and unequal access persist. The study highlights the necessity of integrated water management and policy interventions to maintain agricultural sustainability in semi-arid districts like Ahilyanagar.
Auti et al. (Thu,) studied this question.