RAS question
Drip irrigation is most suitable for:
Correct answer: (D) Arid and semi-arid regions for horticulture.
Drip irrigation is most suitable for horticulture in arid and semi-arid regions, where water must be delivered efficiently to plant roots.
Explanation
Drip irrigation fits arid and semi-arid horticulture because it supplies water through pipes directly to the plant root zone instead of spreading it across the field. This method can save 30-70% water, which is why it suits water-scarce regions such as Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Israel. The ICAR Indian Farming article applies the same logic to dryland horticulture: arid and semi-arid regions face water scarcity, and efficient water-management techniques such as drip irrigation help cultivate fruits, vegetables and medicinal crops under limited water conditions. The answer is therefore not just about irrigation equipment; it is about matching a precise, water-saving method to horticulture where rainfall and soil moisture are limiting factors.
Why the other options are wrong
- (A) Flood irrigation spreads water over the field, while drip irrigation is chosen precisely to avoid that broad, wasteful application and deliver water near the roots.
- (B) Wetland farming is already associated with water-rich conditions, so it does not match the water-scarcity problem that makes drip irrigation useful.
- (C) Rice cultivation commonly depends on standing water, whereas drip irrigation is framed here as a root-zone method for water-scarce horticulture.
Concept
This tests irrigation methods and their regional suitability within Indian agriculture. It recurs in RAS because Rajasthan's geography makes water-saving farming practices central to questions on dryland agriculture, horticulture and resource management.