Performance and Growth of Irrigation Sector in Agriculture Development in Karnataka: A Trendline Analysis

Abstract

The research study aims at explains the performance and growth of irrigation system in agricultural development in Karnataka. It is a critical determinant of agricultural productivity, cropping intensity, crop diversification and rural economic development in Karnataka. The growth of this sector forms a backbone of Karnataka’s agricultural development by reducing the vulnerability of crops to erratic monsoons, generating employment and income opportunities for farmers, improving rural livelihoods, supporting rural development, and contributing to foreign exchange earnings. The state’s net irrigated area reached 46.75 lakh ha, driven primarily by a massive boom in groundwater exploitation via tubewells and borewells, which now account for nearly 80% of total irrigation as per the Economic Survey of Karnataka (2025).