Rural Water-Resources and Irrigated Crop-Production in the Krishna-Godavari Tract: An Epigraphical Analysis from the 9th to 10th Century CE
By Sabarni Pramanik Nayak
Summary
The Krishna-Godavari region in peninsular India, characterized by fertile alluvial plains and distinct geographical features, served as a significant agricultural hub during the 9th to 10th centuries CE. The Godavari and Krishna rivers, along with their tributaries and deltas, supported extensive irrigation systems, with water-bodies like cheruvus (earthen dams) and guntas (ponds) playing a critical role in managing water resources. Inscriptions from Eastern Chalukyan land grants reveal agricultural practices, emphasizing rice and kodo millet cultivation, with seed measurements like khandikas used to determine land productivity. Settlements, often multi-caste, were organized in linear patterns along wetlands, reflecting a mix of small and large villages. The region's agrarian economy relied on irrigated crop production, facilitated by canals, reservoirs, and traditional water management techniques like oddu dams. Boundary descriptions in land charters highlight the shared use of water infrastructure across villages, underscoring the interdependence of communities in managing resources. The analysis of these inscriptions provides insights into the socio-economic structure, agricultural expertise, and technological adaptations of the era, illustrating the region's historical significance in rural water-resource utilization and crop production.
Conclusion
This study highlights the intricate relationship between rural water resources and agricultural productivity in the Krishna-Godavari region during the 9th–10th centuries CE, as evidenced by Eastern Chalukyan land grants. The analysis reveals a sophisticated irrigation system reliant on rivers, canals, and man-made water bodies like cheruvus (dams) and guntas (ponds), which facilitated paddy and millet cultivation. The strategic placement of settlements, often linear along wetlands, and the multi-caste ownership of adjacent fields suggest a well-organized agrarian economy. The use of seed measurements and land demarcation based on water availability underscore the region’s advanced agricultural expertise. These findings emphasize the role of water management in sustaining dense populations and highlight the enduring legacy of indigenous irrigation technologies in shaping the region’s historical agrarian landscape.