Economics of Irrigation System and Water Resource Management for Sustainable Agricultural Development (Special Reference to Etawah District of U.P.)

Abstract

It is well known in spite of 50 years of planned development, with special focus on development of industry and manufacturing. 59 percent of our population continues to depend on agriculture over 71 percent of the country's population continues to reside in rural areas. The contribution of agriculture to the GDP is declining continuously while the population deriving its sustenance from agriculture remains stagnant at about 60 percent. Though the decadal population growth rate during 1991-2001 has dipped below 2 percent for the first time since independence, the labour force is expected to grow at a peak level of 2.5 percent per annum for a few years before declining. Literacy level have also risen and thereby expectations. A major challenge facing us today is to provide productive employment opportunities to the increasing labour force. The need to rapidly industrialise rural areas for providing employment and alleviating poverty.