Maybe for huge orchards, but I said it was hypnotic because it was more of a technical work. Once the trenches are in place (and they can be made with a tractor) the only work is one move with the hoe to switch the water flow from one trench to the next. I was a child and the guy allowed me to try it once. I succeded just with three loads of dirt instead of one.
Probably for good reason. Manually dug irrigation trenches are back-breaking labor.