Lift Irrigation Planning for Drought-Prone Koraput, India

The Koraput district, prone to frequent droughts, requires sustainable irrigation strategies to support agriculture, particularly millet cultivation, which is both climate-resilient and water-efficient. This study focuses on the planning and design of a lift irrigation system suited to the region’s agro-ecological conditions. The system aims to optimize the use of local water resources, ensuring reliable irrigation and improving crop productivity. Key elements of the project include the identification of suitable sites for lift stations, the design of pump systems capable of transporting water to higher elevations, and the construction of storage tanks to manage seasonal water shortages. A 10 HP pump has been proposed, supported by renewable energy to ensure energy efficiency and reduce operational costs. Smart irrigation techniques are integrated to minimize water wastage and enhance system performance. Technical assessments using CROPWAT show that maize requires 62.1 mm (net) and 43.5 mm (gross) irrigation, while millet needs 106.0 mm (net) and 74.2 mm (gross). The crop water demand was estimated at 451.6 mm/dec for maize and 375.5 mm/dec for millet. Structural design for the underground tank specifies a 400 mm wall thickness, 2296.8 mm² minimum steel reinforcement, and 1.5 N/mm² tensile stress. A triangular channel, 4.42 m deep and 11.05 m wide with a 1:1 side slope, was designed for water conveyance.