Different Types of Farm Ponds and Their Water-Holding Capacities in India

Farm ponds are small water-harvesting structures constructed on agricultural land to collect, store and utilize rainwater and surface runoff. They are particularly important in rainfed and drought-prone regions, where stored water can provide lifesaving irrigation during dry spells, support horticulture and livestock, recharge groundwater and, in suitable cases, support fisheries.
There is no single standard farm-pond size for all of India. Pond dimensions are selected according to rainfall, catchment area, soil, slope, farm size, crop water requirement and intended use. ICAR-CRIDA, for example, has promoted location-specific farm-pond designs for rainfed regions.

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1.Standard 20 × 20 × 3 m Farm Pond

The 20 × 20 × 3 m farm pond is an important reference size in Indian government programmes.
The Nagarkurnool District administration in Telangana currently lists a 20 × 20 × 3 m farm pond with a storage capacity of 8.94 lakh litres. The same page describes a 20 × 20 × 3 m water-harvesting system under RKVY with a maximum permissible cost of ₹1.50 lakh per unit and 50% assistance under the specified programme conditions. 
This size therefore provides a useful example of a medium-to-large farm pond used in government-supported agricultural water harvesting.

2. Small Farm Ponds – Around 0.5–1.0 Lakh Litres

Small farm ponds are suitable for small landholdings, vegetable cultivation, horticulture and protective irrigation. They require comparatively less land and investment and can be useful where the available runoff is limited.
An example from the West Godavari District administration gives a 5 × 5 × 2 m farm pond with a reported storage capacity of approximately 98,000 litres (0.98 lakh litres). 
Typical utility
Rainfall/runoff → Small pond → Stored water → Protective irrigation
These ponds can be particularly useful for vegetables, nurseries and small horticultural areas where even a limited quantity of water can protect crops during dry periods.

3. Small-to-Medium Farm Ponds – Around 1–3 Lakh Litres

These ponds provide greater storage than very small ponds and can be used for supplemental irrigation, horticulture and livestock-related activities.
For example, West Godavari district lists a 10 × 10 × 2 m pond with approximately 2.88 lakh litres of storage capacity. 
Typical utility
Farm runoff → Silt trap → Pond → Pump → Drip/sprinkler → Crops

4. Medium Farm Ponds – Around 3–10 Lakh Litres

Medium-sized ponds are appropriate for farms requiring larger supplemental irrigation reserves, especially for horticulture and mixed farming.
15 × 15 × 2 m → 5.78 lakh litres
20 × 20 × 2 m → 9.68 lakh litres
These figures are reported by the district administration based on its farm-pond designs. 
Such ponds can provide a useful buffer during periods when rainfall stops temporarily but crops still require water.

• Suitable uses
  
• Supplemental irrigation
  
• Vegetable cultivation
  
• Fruit orchards
  
• Nursery raising
  
• Livestock water supply
  
• Groundwater recharge
  

5. Large Farm Ponds – Around 10–20 Lakh Litres

Larger ponds are useful where the farmer has a larger catchment area and sufficient runoff to fill the structure.
A Central Water Commission study documented farm ponds with capacities up to 10 lakh litres in plantation areas, including silpaulin-lined ponds locally known as paduthakulam. These ponds were used to harvest runoff and store water for irrigation during the summer season, with some farmers also practicing pisciculture. 
A larger pond can be connected to a pump and micro-irrigation system:
Large catchment → Farm pond → Pump → Drip irrigation → Orchard/field crops

6. Very Large Farm Ponds – 20 Lakh Litres and Above

Where rainfall, catchment and land availability permit, considerably larger farm ponds can be constructed.
14 × 14 × 4 m → 13.60 lakh litres
24 × 25 × 4 m → 34.28 lakh litres
These examples demonstrate that farm-pond capacity can extend well beyond the commonly seen small ponds. 
Large ponds are generally more suitable for farms with significant irrigation requirements, horticultural plantations or integrated farming systems.

7. Farm Ponds of Around 1,000 m³ and Above

Some farm ponds are designed in terms of cubic metres (m³) rather than litres.
Remember:
1 m³ = 1,000 litres
Therefore:
1,000 m³ = 10 lakh litres
ICAR has documented a lined farm pond with a capacity of 1,242 m³ (12.42 lakh litres). Its dimensions were approximately 18 m × 30 m at the top, 12 m × 24 m at the bottom and 3 m depth, with a 1:1 side slope. 
Such ponds can provide substantial water storage for supplemental irrigation and diversified farming.

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Conclusion:

Farm ponds used in India range from small structures holding less than one lakh litres to large ponds capable of storing tens of lakh litres or even several crore litres. Government and institutional examples include 5 × 5 × 2 m ponds of about 0.98 lakh litres, 20 × 20 × 2 m ponds of about 9.68 lakh litres, Telangana's 20 × 20 × 3 m design at 8.94 lakh litres, and much larger lined and dugout structures documented by ICAR and the Central Water Commission.