Despite all the progress made in the agriculture field, the forecasting failure of Monsoon has the same impact when technologies were not there. Not much has changed in agriculture. Clearly the single most important input needed by farmers-water-has become scarce with large section of the community depending on rain. So much of concern has been expressed over the plight of agriculture sector but till date providing a realistic , reliable and dependable irrigation system never remained a priority for all the governments in New Delhi. Capital investment for building infrastructure like canals, water supply schemes, grain storage areas and supportive marketing system in the face of low returns always remained elusive. The declining government investment in the sector too is responsible for the dismal returns. Most of the irrigation projects are either running cost escalation due to time run-outs and surprisingly some of the projects started twenty years ago are yet to see the canal end completed. So the farmers’ dependence on rain becomes obvious and tubewells which too are seeing fall in ground water level adds to their cost of production. Productivity in general has fallen and is sliding down with worst affect on the marginal farmers. Govt has provided over Rs 53,000 crore to states for irrigation projects from 2004 to 2014 which is a colossal figure but the inherent delay in completion of the projects in time has failed to reap the expected returns. So any failure on Monsoon front has its own pitfalls. Now, Govt has to come out with a cost effective irrigation system like building ponds and check dams to arrest the over flow during rainy season to replenish ground water source at village levels. Most places in Central India which faced water scarcity are today meeting their needs by adopting these methods reaping good returns and in other areas where they could not take benefits it has led to despair and suicides.
