| Bhim Singh (Research Scholar) Department of Geography University of Rajasthan Jaipur (Rajasthan) India | Dr. Anil Kumar Yadav (Assistant Professor) Department of Geography Alankar P.G. Mahavidyalaya Jaipur(Rajasthan) India |
Abstract
Rajasthan has a distinctive agricultural environment characterized by arid and semi-arid conditions, irregular rainfall, and considerable spatial variation in water availability. In this context, irrigation plays an important role in increasing the utilization of agricultural land and enabling multiple cropping. The present study examines the changing trends in agricultural land use, irrigation, cropping intensity, and irrigation intensity in Rajasthan during 2007-08 to 2022-23. The study uses secondary data on indices of net and gross sown area, net and gross irrigated area, cropping intensity, irrigation intensity, and their respective indices. Descriptive analysis and percentage-change calculations were employed to identify temporal changes. The findings indicate that the index of net sown area increased from 101.17 in 2007-08 to 109.02 in 2022-23, while the gross sown area index increased from 101.81 to 129.14. More substantial growth occurred in irrigation: the net irrigated area index increased from 100.51 to 148.18, and the gross irrigated area index rose from 101.68 to 158.18. Cropping intensity increased from 129.91% to 152.92%, whereas irrigation intensity increased from 125.52% to 132.45%. Thus, irrigation expansion was considerably stronger than the increase in irrigation intensity, while cropping intensity showed a substantial long-term improvement. The findings suggest that irrigation development has supported agricultural intensification, although the increase in cropping intensity is also influenced by factors such as rainfall, crop choice, technology, and farm-management practices. Sustainable agricultural development in Rajasthan requires efficient irrigation, groundwater conservation, crop diversification, and climate-resilient farming.