Where Is Irrigation Headed in the Driest State of India? A Spatio‐Temporal Analysis of Irrigation in Rajasthan, India

ABSTRACT The state of Rajasthan, with its arid and semiarid climate, has made significant advancements in irrigation after the green revolution. This research offers a comprehensive spatio‐temporal analysis of irrigation development in Rajasthan, examining the dynamic shifts in irrigation patterns, sources and their compound annual exponential growth rates (CAEGRs), and assessing the impact of various sources of irrigation on the net sown area (NSA). Currently, almost three‐fourths of irrigated areas use groundwater sources. Over the last decade, tubewell irrigation has expanded most rapidly (CAEGR: 2.5%), followed by canal irrigation (2.2%), whereas tank irrigation has sharply declined (−2.6%). Furthermore, tubewell irrigation utilization significantly impacts the NSA, especially during the Rabi season in western Rajasthan. However, this increase in groundwater irrigation has an environmental cost in terms of a significant decline in the groundwater level, particularly in districts with relatively high levels of tube‐well irrigation. Business, as usual, is not sustainable, as depleting groundwater resources will adversely affect food security in the region. The Rajasthan experience emphasizes exploring the balance between short‐term agricultural gains and the protection of critical ecosystems. It also offers vital lessons for dry and semiarid regions around the world that are facing similar challenges.