An Approach to Study of Irrigation- Case of Kanyakumari District

This paper seeks to develop an integrated approach to analysis of the physical, techno economic, organisational and institutional aspects of irrigation systems. Certain analytical devices are first formulated to make clear distinctions among the components of irrigation systems and these are then applied to a concrete case. The authors have selected Kanyakumari district for their case study, mainly because scarcity of water and consequent crop failures have been frequent in the tail-end areas of this district in recent years. The last section of the paper briefly outlines some issues thrown up by the study which call for further research.