The Need For Sustainable Groundwater Management In Indian Agriculture

India’s agricultural success in producing water-intensive crops like paddy is straining finite groundwater reserves, exacerbating over-extraction, salinisation, and chemical contamination.

While government initiatives such as the National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture and Atal Bhujal Yojana have improved groundwater sustainability, urgent efforts are needed at both national and state levels to ensure water security, agricultural resilience, and long-term food security amidst growing population pressures.

India’s Agricultural Dominance and Groundwater Challenges

India is a major producer of essential food grains, but this success comes with significant challenges related to groundwater depletion. Here’s a breakdown of the situation:

• Agricultural Powerhouse: India is a leading producer of rice, wheat, and pulses, meeting domestic needs and supporting exports.
• Water-Intensive Crops: The cultivation of water-heavy crops like paddy relies heavily on groundwater for irrigation.
• Rising Global Population: Between 2016 and 2024, the world’s population grew from 7.56 billion to 8.2 billion, while India’s population increased from 1.29 billion to 1.45 billion.
• Increasing Groundwater Usage: Groundwater use for irrigation rose from 38% in 2016-17 to 52% in 2023-24, according to the CGWB report.
• Over-Exploitation in Key States: Many districts in major paddy-producing states, such as Rajasthan (19 districts), Punjab (19 districts), and Haryana (14 districts), have excessively tapped into their groundwater resources.

Groundwater Overexploitation And Its Impact

The overuse of groundwater for agriculture, combined with excessive fertiliser application, has led to serious environmental and health issues. Below are the key points:

• Salinisation of Groundwater: Overuse of groundwater, especially in Rajasthan, causes salinisation. In 2023-24, Rajasthan experienced the highest salinity at 22% due to its arid climate and high evaporation rates, despite receiving the highest rainfall (608 mm) among the three states.
• Impact of Fertilisers: Excessive fertiliser use, especially for paddy, increases soil salinity, which seeps into groundwater and degrades its quality.
• Contamination by Chemicals: Chemicals like nitrates and uranium enter groundwater due to fertiliser runoff. For example, nitrate pollution is significant in states like Maharashtra, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu, while phosphate fertilisers contribute to uranium contamination in Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu.
• Health Hazards: Polluted groundwater causes diseases such as blue baby syndrome, thyroid disorders, dental fluorosis, and cancer, making it unsafe for consumption.
• Agricultural Productivity Loss: Contaminated groundwater reduces soil fertility, lowers crop yields, and decreases farmers’ income.
• Future Risks: If current practices persist, over half the districts in Punjab may deplete their groundwater entirely, with similar risks in 21-23% of Haryana and Rajasthan districts, as warned by the CGWB.

Urgent Need for Sustainable Groundwater Management in Agriculture

Addressing groundwater challenges is crucial for India’s agricultural future, given the growing population and water scarcity concerns. Projections indicate significant pressures on resources, demanding immediate action.

By 2036, the world population will likely reach 8.95 billion, and India’s population is expected to grow to 1.52 billion, necessitating sustainable farming and irrigation practices to ensure water security.

Central Government Initiatives For Sustainable Agriculture

• National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (2014): Promotes practices like zero tillage, cover cropping, and micro-irrigation to manage water use, reduce chemical dependence, and enhance soil health.
• Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (2015): Focuses on expanding drip and sprinkler irrigation to achieve higher water efficiency under the “more crop per drop” initiative.
• Atal Bhujal Yojana (2019): Encourages efficient groundwater management in water-scarce states, including Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh.

State-Level Responsibilities And Efforts

• Role of State Governments: State governments must address groundwater mismanagement with urgency. States with safe groundwater levels, such as Chhattisgarh, Bihar, and Odisha, should adopt resource-efficient farming for water-intensive crops.
• Odisha’s Climate-Resilient Initiative: The Integrated Irrigation Project focuses on improving irrigation efficiency and adopting climate-smart agricultural practices, funded with World Bank assistance on a 70:30 Centre-state cost-sharing basis.
• Expanding Successful Models: Replicating initiatives like Odisha’s across water-stressed districts can conserve groundwater reserves, boost agricultural productivity, and contribute to global food security amid climate challenges.

Source: Make country’s groundwater sustainable, Financial Express, January 10

Also Read

• India’s Water Resources And Their Distribution
• Cropping Patterns In India And Their Evolution Over Decades
• Regenerative Agriculture
• Land Degradation

UPSC PYQs

• UPSC Main PYQs: Agriculture
• Prelims PYQs: Agriculture
• UPSC Prelims Environment & Ecology PYQs: Pollution And Solid Waste Management