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Water In Agriculture

Water In Agriculture

Water In Agriculture

Water In Agriculture

CONSERVE WATER. SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE PRACTICES.

Create an enabling environment for water conservation and improve water-use efficiency in agriculture.

Agriculture and Water are inextricably linked. To the extent that civilizations, down the ages, have flourished only along great rivers. The ability to transport water further inland through canals and much later through wells gave humanity the ability to expand their ability to produce more food and hence expand their population. However, the ever increasing demand for water is straining the capacity of rivers/ water bodies/ groundwater reserves. The fact also remains that we continue to need more food to feed the increasing human population. This is not taking into account the water requirements of other life forms with whom we share this planet.

It is an established fact that 90% of fresh water withdrawals in India go into Agriculture. Around 62% of irrigation in India is done through abstraction of groundwater. It is also established that India is fast reaching an alarming position as regards ground water availability.

One sixth of blocks in the country are already in the over-exploited category. Add to it the fact that climate change impact is being increasingly felt through reduced rainfall spread.

Thus, any intervention to conserve water at scale will essentially need to work closely with the needs of agriculture. The program will need to negotiate a complex interplay of variables including weather situation, Crop/ variety selection, yield potential, water requirement of the crop, irrigation resources, technology to save water, agronomic practices, agri extension services, agri input availability, electricity availability and more. Not to mention policy changes that impact pricing of inputs/ produce.

Interventions would also need to keep in mind that 70% of the population in the country depends on agriculture for its livelihood, and agriculture provides 15 - 18% of the nation’s GDP.

Problem statements identified in the program design:

  • Weak management of water resources is impacting farmers’ ability to conduct agricultural livelihood practices in a sustainable manner
  • Erratic rainfall patterns owing to climate change are causing crop losses among farmers, and are exposing their lack of resilience to such pattern changes
  • Farmer over-exploitation of water for agricultural use is impacting water availability for current and future use, posing significant livelihood risks
  • Weak management and development of water (harvesting) structures are limiting the recharge potential across the country, resulting in deteriorating groundwater levels
Khushali Sehat - A Preventive Healthcare Initiative
Khushali
Khushali Sehat - A Preventive Healthcare Initiative
Khushali Swachhata - A Sanitation Initiative
Khushali
Khushali Swachhata - A Sanitation Initiative
Khushali Shiksha - An Education Initiative
Khushali
Khushali Shiksha - An Education Initiative
Khushali Rozgaar - A Skilling and Livelihood Initiative
Khushali
Khushali Rozgaar - A Skilling & Livelihood Initiative
Khushali Paryavaran - An Environment Sustainability Initiative
Khushali
Khushali Paryavaran - An Environment Sustainability Initiative
Agri Skilling & Livelihood Program
Jeetega Kisaan
Agri Skilling & Livelihood Program
Water In Agriculture
Social Responsibility
Water In Agriculture