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The Vijayanagara Kingdom was established by Harihara I in 1336 AD in Deccan plateau region in South India. It ruled upto 1646 AD, although it was defeated by the combined Armies of Delhi Sultanates viz Bidar, Belgaum, Berar, Golconda and Ahmednagar. The rulers of this kingdom were recognized the importance of irrigation linking to prosperity of common people. Hence, they undertaken extensive works in the form of tanks, bunds, dams, canals etc.

The writing of foreign rulers like Niccolo Da Conti, Domingo Paes, Fernao Nunes and Indian authors given account of the Vijanagara kingdom system of agriculture and irrigation. AGRICULTURE : Agriculture was the main occupation of the people of this kingdom. Paddy, Ragi, pepper, cardamom, cotton, turmeric, onions, betel leaves, corn/maize, grams and oil seeds, mustard, fruits & vegetables comprised the bulk of the agricultural produce. Rice, sugar and spices , cotton, linen, and medicinal herbs, teak, sandalwood and printed fabrics were exported to China, Maldives, Yemen, Portugal, Persia, Arabia, Aden, Malacca and Sumatra at great profit .

Imports consisted of Arabian horses, porcelain, glass, paper, saffron, jewels, camphor, lead, tin, mercury, gold, iron, brass, elephants, explosives etc. From western and eastern shores, the most important ports were Mangalore, Barkur, Bhatkal, Honavar the empire traded with the Europeans and Persians.

One-sixth to one-fourth of the produce would normally be collected as tax. Tax rebates were given to tillers and lease-holders of uncultivated lands. Taxes were either discounted or cancelled in the event of any natural disasters such as drought, floods or robberies. Happy occasions such as coronations and festivals also resulted in tax rebates. The farmers were quite knowledgeable about soil quality, agricultural tools, quality of plant breeds and seeds, irrigation and fertilizers. The practice of two to four harvests a year was followed commonly.

IRRIGATION : The Vijayanagar Empire concentrated its attention on equally developing three types of irrigation facilities - storage comprised of tanks, river works comprising canals and diversion dams, and finally, lift works constituting wells. Domingo Paes (a Portuguese) who visited the Vijayanagar Empire around 1520 AD noted that Krishna Deva Raya constructed a mega tank to provide irrigation and water supply to the then newly-founded city of Nagalapura (Hospet).

Saluva Narasimha converted a valley in Anantapur district into a tank, named Narasambudhi. Though rulers of this Kindom built innumerable canals, tanks etc., Timmasamudra, Kondasamudra, Vyasasamudra, irrigation canal called Nutana Tungabhadra are famous. Grants called dasavanda and kattu kodage given to encourage people or local bodies for irrigation initiatives, Every enterprising person, who excavated a well, tank or dug a canal, was given a piece of tax-free land from these grants. Repair and maintenance of existing irrigation works was also given immense importance by the Vijayanagar kings.

Even the local administrative bodies had provisions for the upkeep of tanks and other water sources including feeder canals. Temples also played a very important role in conducting such works from their own source of funds received from devotees. Tank repair works were always given top priority and were attended to with alacrity

Early British observers had expressed immense praise for irrigation works of the Vijayanagar Empire. In view of above, it is concluded that rulers of Vijayanagara kingdom given importance to irrigation and agriculture. As a result, society was by and large was happy and agriculture was prospered.