Labour-Intensive and Capital-Intensive Technology in Irrigation Development

Abstract

The need for a rapid expansion in irrigation in India for the purposes of food production is generally accepted. Whether irrigation works can at the same time effectively tackle the country's massive rural unemployment problem is the subject of this paper. Basic planning requirements are outline, and then the complex issues surrounding the choice of labour-intensive or capital?intensive technology are discussed. Finally, the kinds of data required before informed decisions can be made are specified.