The correct answer is: d) All of the above
Irrigation facilities enable cultivation of water-intensive crops by providing water to crops that would otherwise not be able to grow in the area. This can lead to increased crop yields and incomes for farmers. Irrigation also reduces dependence on rainfall, which can be erratic and unpredictable. This can help farmers to plan their crops more effectively and reduce the risk of crop failure. Finally, irrigation can promote crop diversification by allowing farmers to grow a wider range of crops. This can help to improve food security and reduce the risk of price fluctuations.
Here is a brief explanation of each option:
- a) Enabling cultivation of water-intensive crops
Irrigation facilities provide water to crops that would otherwise not be able to grow in the area. This can lead to increased crop yields and incomes for farmers. For example, rice is a water-intensive crop that cannot be grown without irrigation in most parts of Bihar. However, with irrigation, rice can be grown in many parts of the state, which has led to increased rice production and incomes for farmers.
- b) Reducing dependence on rainfall
Irrigation reduces dependence on rainfall, which can be erratic and unpredictable. This can help farmers to plan their crops more effectively and reduce the risk of crop failure. For example, if there is a drought, farmers who have access to irrigation can continue to grow their crops, while farmers who do not have access to irrigation may have to abandon their crops.
- c) Promoting crop diversification
Irrigation can promote crop diversification by allowing farmers to grow a wider range of crops. This can help to improve food security and reduce the risk of price fluctuations. For example, farmers who have access to irrigation can grow a variety of crops, including rice, wheat, maize, and vegetables. This helps to ensure that there is a variety of food available for the population and that farmers are not as vulnerable to price fluctuations for any one crop.