The need for increasing food production in India, through an13; increase in area under irrigation cannot be overemphasised. Utilization of wind power for minor irrigation using windmills would be very helpful, particularly in areas under irrigation from wells. Two types of direct water-pumping windmills, viz., the WP-1 and the WP-2. have been developed in the National Aeronautical Laboratory, Bangalore. The monthly quantities of water that can be pumped by a WP-2 windmill at 16 places in India have been computed, based on the mean hourly wind speeds at these places. fall at these places shows that at most of the places under study, the water pumped is B maximum when the rainfall is minimum.13; Comparison of the water pumped against the monthly rainfall at these places shows that at most of the places under study,the water pumped is a maximum when the rainfall is minimum. The trials with a 6 kW, 220 volts D.C. Allgaier wind electric generator, at an agricultural farm at Porbandar for pumping water for irrigation show that the cost of pumping water is less than half that by a 10 H.P. Diesel Engine
