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Rainfed Agriculture
Climate vulnerability map of India coming soon
Posted on 28 Sep, 2019 04:27 PMNew Delhi, September 27 (India Science Wire): Rising sea levels, increasing number of extreme weather events, urban floods, changing temperature and rainfall patterns - such impacts of climate change are being felt in many parts of India, and not just in the coastal areas or hilly regions.
![Dr. Akhilesh Gupta , head of the climate change programme at DST. Image source: India Science Wire](/sites/default/files/styles/featured_articles/public/iwp/isw_article_lead_image_1.jpg?itok=VQPCWhzO)
Return of the pearl millet
Posted on 28 Sep, 2019 01:46 PMPandutalav, a small quiet village nestled in the dry teak forests in the tribal pocket in Dewas boasts an authentic rural way of life. This little dot on the map is known for its attempts to introduce indigenous varieties of crops, in particular pearl millet these days.
![This variety of bajra has extended whiskers on its seeds when on the plant. This prevented the birds from eating it. Growing bajra in Pandutalav became possible only when Majlis could lay its hands on this variety. (Image: Majlis)](/sites/default/files/styles/featured_articles/public/iwp/bajra.jpg?itok=pntS2Nlu)
Farm ponds change farmers’ fortunes
Posted on 13 Sep, 2019 01:09 PMWhile enhanced irrigation coverage has been hailed as an important way to improve agricultural productivity, it continues to lag behind in India and agriculture continues to be rainfed, subject to the vagaries of the monsoon.
![Farm ponds are one way to deal with water scarcity (Image Source: India Water Portal Flickr photos)](/sites/default/files/styles/featured_articles/public/iwp/valni.jpg?itok=qUS5qmpw)
How to restrict crops to geographically sustainable areas: The case of arecanut in Tumkur
Posted on 13 Sep, 2019 12:19 PMArecanut is generally grown in the Malnad area of Karnataka, which receives high rainfall. However, it is also grown in dry land areas of Tumkur district, also in Karnataka, using groundwater.
![Young arecanut trees grown in drylands of Tumkur region (Gubbi Taluk, Hodalur Village) Pic Credit: Chandana Eswar](/sites/default/files/styles/featured_articles/public/iwp/pic1_youngareca.jpg?itok=eayuo_Un)
How local democracy is solving water issues in southern Rajasthan
Posted on 09 Sep, 2019 09:48 AMWhile most parts of the country are facing a water crisis, here’s a case from the arid state of Rajasthan, where decentralized initiatives are solving water issues. Dungarpur in southern Rajasthan has exemplified how community participation with local level planning processes are working towards improving rainwater harvesting and recharge of groundwater.
![Community pond in Doja after the first pre-monsoon rain. Pic credit: Rajat Kumar](/sites/default/files/styles/featured_articles/public/iwp/img_3328.jpg?itok=9WovwWSF)
Monsoon set to abate: SkyMet Weather
Posted on 28 Aug, 2019 11:49 AMSince the 25th of July, there have been four consecutive weeks of surplus rainfall which have compensated for the delayed onset of monsoon and the deficient rains recorded in June and early July. July had ended with a countrywide deficit of 9%, but vigorous Monsoon conditions took the rains to a surplus of 1% as on August 25.
![Picture for representational purposes only. Picture courtesy India Water Portal on Flickr](/sites/default/files/styles/featured_articles/public/iwp/19406802365_e99c037df7_z.jpg?itok=IpgFmfAh)
P Sainath: The water crisis is not caused by drought
Posted on 13 Aug, 2019 11:47 AMP Sainath has been documenting stories from rural India for over three decades now.
![Picture: The semi-arid regions of the Moyar-Bhavani River basin in Tamil Nadu. Picture credit: Prathigna Poonacha, Tanvi Deshpande; Indian Institute for Human Settlements from India Water Portal on Flickr. Picture used for representational purposes only](/sites/default/files/styles/featured_articles/public/iwp/24357205781_759ee198e1_z.jpg?itok=Pc70ynmu)
"Digging recharge wells is the only way Bengaluru won’t run out of water"
Posted on 07 Aug, 2019 02:29 PMVishwanath Srikantaiah, popularly known as the 'Rainman', has been in the news recently for his ambitious project to build one million recharge wells in Bengaluru. Given the dire situation we find ourselves in vis-à-vis water, the initiative could not have come at a better time.
![Ramakrishna Bovi is a traditional well-digger in Bengaluru. Image credit: Citizen Matters](/sites/default/files/styles/featured_articles/public/iwp/citizen-live-ramakrishna-bovi-678x381.png?itok=AEp4EdmO)
All work and some play
Posted on 02 Aug, 2019 12:11 PMIndia is, by far, the world’s largest groundwater economy. India’s annual withdrawal of fresh groundwater (253 Billion Cubic Metres in 2013) amounts to one fourth of the global total and is more than that of China and the US combined. Over 80% of water extracted is used in agriculture. The share of tubewells in net irrigated area rose from a mere 1% in 1960-61 to over 40% in 2013-14.
![Villagers in Magradeh, Madhya Pradesh watching neighbouring farmers play a game. Image credit: Water Practitioners Network](/sites/default/files/styles/featured_articles/public/iwp/0b159c_a33b570c91a94a6f8c731c9d513524f8_mv2.png?itok=gxErJEEQ)
Is the Jalayukt Shivar Abhiyan just a quick fix to manage droughts?
Posted on 02 Aug, 2019 10:29 AMMaharashtra is reeling under drought this year too, with the situation in Marathwada particularly bad.
![Quick fix solutions to droughts will not work (Image Source: Wikimedia Commons)](/sites/default/files/styles/featured_articles/public/iwp/droughts_a_2.jpg?itok=YWWZZ7If)