Groundwater

Green growth finds prominence in the Union Budget 2023-24

Traditional mixed farming systems are transitioning towards intensive farming systems in India, which are based on high use of land and water with a focus on speci

Policy makers in developing countries have long emphasized improvements in agricultural productivity as a central strategy for promoting rural development.

Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) is currently the largest funded rural development program in India to ensure rural livelihood by providing employment through different activities.

India joins the newly formed Mangrove Alliance for Climate (MAC)

Population increase has placed ever-increasing demands on the available groundwater resources, particularly for intensive agricultural activities.

An estimated 620 million tons of crop residue is generated annually in India, of which 16% is burnt in field. The major contribution in stubble burning is paddy straw (43%), wheat straw (21%) followed by sugarcane (19%).

The sound of a specific cycle bell deep inside the jungles of Kashinathpur village in Angul (Odisha) brings vibes of joy. Everybody recognises that bell because it belongs to 24-year-old Urmila Bahera who sometimes cycles to villages as far as 15 kilometres, braving bumpy roads, streams and elephants.

In the Bundelkhand craton region, groundwater is the primary source of drinking water. Due to low rainfall, agriculture mainly depends on the goundwater supply, which comes through bore wells. Most of the time, the region faces a water crisis during the summer season as the wells and tube wells go dry.

India is the largest user of groundwater globally and as high as 85 percent of water is used for irrigation. Groundwater extraction started with the green revolution that increased  food security and reduced poverty. However, it gradually led to drastic depletion in groundwater levels.