Irrigation

Agricultural productivity continues to be low in South Asian economies such as India. For example, the average paddy production per hectare in India is 3590 kg, which is much lower compared to 6686 kg per ha.

Irrigation, vital for agriculture, involves supplying water through artificial means like pipelines and sprinklers. It enhances crop yields, accounting for 17% of global agricultural land and 40% of cereal output. India, with limited resources, irrigates 64.7 million hectares, enabling multiple harvests.

India is widely acknowledged as one of the most water-stressed countries globally, exacerbated by the stark reality that it hosts 17% of the world's population but possesses only 4% of the world's freshwater resources.

How do you save water? By using less of it? It sounds simple, but defining water use is more complex. Is it the amount of water drawn from the ground or piped supply for crop irrigation? Or is it the water consumed by the crops themselves to grow?

Can traditional tanks help Bengaluru in reviving its groundwater levels and in preventing the growing water crisis that the city is currently facing?

Traditional tanks in South India

Urban India is sucking groundwater at frightening rates

The tank irrigation systems of South India

Our needs are numerous, with food, clothing, and shelter being our basic requirements. Ensuring basic food security is paramount for any country, as relying on others for our survival is quite risky. Fortunately, rice and wheat are the two prominent staple food crops that are widely and abundantly grown in India to feed the masses.

India has made impressive progress in rural electrification (RE) since the government of India shifted its policy focus towards universal household electrification since early 2000s.

The agrarian complexities India faces are large-scale and systemic, intertwined with socio-economic and environmental issues.