Explain the consequences of changing crop pattern due to irrigation.

Irrigation has changed the cropping pattern of many regions with farmers shifting to the cultivation of water intensive and commercial crops. This has great ecological consequences. It leads to waterlogging and salinization of soil which is considered as a negative effect of irrigation. As farmers have better access to irrigation, they have earned more money due to the production of commercial crops. On the other hand, the landless poor who could not avail of its benefits has become poorer. Thus, irrigation has transformed the landscape by increasing the social gap between rich landowners and the landless poor farmers.