A Geographical Analysis of Tubewell Irrigation Farming System in Gundlupet Taluk of Chamarajanagar District

The study presents a geographical analysis of tubewell irrigation in Gundlupet Taluk of Chamarajanagar District, highlighting spatial disparities in irrigation dependency and functionality across its hoblis. Agriculture in the region, characterized by a semi-arid climate, increasingly depends on groundwater extraction due to limited surface water sources. Secondary data from census records and district statistical handbooks were analyzed to examine the extent, distribution, and efficiency of tubewell irrigation. Results reveal that out of 16,565 tubewells in the taluk, 11,699 (70.6%) are functional and 4,866 (29.4%) are non-functional. Beguru hobli accounts for the highest share of working tubewells (30.45%), while Kasaba hobli records the largest proportion of non-working wells (36.29%), indicating groundwater stress. The findings underscore the growing dependence on groundwater and the pressing need for sustainable management practices. The study emphasizes the importance of integrating groundwater regulation, micro-irrigation, and recharge structures to ensure agricultural sustainability and resilience in Gundlupet Taluk.