How India can balance its water demand and supply

Context: In 2020, while India’s domestic sector required 54,000 billion litres water, the agriculture sector needed 14 times more—776,000 billion litres.

Water crisis in India:

• The long-standing Cauvery dispute and depleting water reservoir reports highlight the  importance of fair water allocation for water, food, and livelihood security in India.
• Water's significance extends beyond individual sectors, especially concerning food and energy needs in the country.
• In 2020, India's domestic sector required 54,000 billion liters of water, while agriculture needed significantly more at 776,000 billion liters, accounting for 87% of the country's water demand by 2030, according to CEEW estimates.
• Conflicts may arise between competing sectors, such as agriculture and industries, intensifying pressure on limited water Resources.
• The interconnectedness of food, land, water, and energy sectors necessitates careful consideration of trade-offs to avoid detrimental impacts.
• Historical instances, like power subsidies for groundwater irrigation during the Green Revolution in states like Punjab and Haryana, have led to severe groundwater depletion and soil subsidence.
• The Indian government reported substantial power subsidies to the agricultural sector, ranging from Rs 80,000-91,000 crore in 2019.
• Traditional Minimum Support Prices (MSP) have incentivized water-intensive crops, contributing to unregulated irrigation practices and alarming groundwater depletion rates.
• CEEW estimates that the cost of inaction towards improved agriculture water management could be Rs 48 trillion in 2030 and Rs 138 trillion in 2050.

Solutions:

To enhance water security and strengthen food systems in India, key recommendations include scaling up improved on-farm irrigation and water practices.

Scaling up improved on-farm irrigation and water practices

• Technologies like precision agriculture, micro-irrigation, mulching, and policy reforms  such as water auditing and volumetric pricing are crucial for efficient water use.
• Adoption of such practices could save 20-47% of irrigation water by 2030 and 2050, as demonstrated by the success of schemes like the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana’s Per Drop More Crop.
• Investments, innovations, and incentives for improved irrigation and water management in agriculture are essential for sustainable practices.

Integration of food, land, water, and energy policies

• Integration at all stages —design, implementation, monitoring, and impact evaluation—is necessary for effective management.
• Establishing an independent body within the government can guide the planning process across ministries relevant to the water-energy-food nexus.
• States can assess their requirements based on existing mechanisms, exemplified by Odisha's Planning & Convergence Department.
• The Composite Water Management Index developed by NITI Aayog in 2018 acknowledges nexus linkages, measuring progress in water, food, and energy sectors.

Scaling up community-managed groundwater practices

• Schemes like Atal Bhujal Yojana involve community participation at the gram panchayat level to collect data and develop water security plans.
• Community involvement in groundwater planning has shown promising results, emphasizing the importance of such practices for India's food security by 2030.
• Recognizing water as part of a nexus in policy formulation is crucial for ensuring a water and food-secure future in India.