Ashok Gulati writes: How India can minimise climate risk in agriculture

Source: The post is based on the article “Ashok Gulati writes: How India can minimise climate risk in agriculture” published in “Indian express” on 16th October 2023.

Syllabus: GS3- Agriculture- different types of irrigation and irrigation systems storage; food security.

News: The article discusses India’s progress in food security and its water usage in agriculture. India has increased food production and exports but still faces malnutrition issues. Despite limited freshwater, India uses a lot for farming. The country needs to efficiently manage water, focus on water productivity, and encourage farmers to grow less water-intensive crops.

How has India’s food production improved?

Exports Surge: Between 2020-23, India exported a significant 85 million tonnes of cereals. This includes major staples like rice, wheat, and corn.

Domestic Support: The PM Garib Kalyan Yojana initiative has provided free food, either rice or wheat, to over 800 million people, highlighting the country’s ability to support its population while also being a major exporter.

Milk Production Growth: From a mere 17 MT in 1951, milk production has seen a steep rise to 222 MT in 2022-23, making India the world’s largest milk producer.

Diversified Production: Since the 2000s, India has seen rapid growth in poultry and fishery sectors, indicating a move beyond traditional staples, into what’s termed as pink (poultry) and blue (fishery) revolutions.

How is India using its water for agriculture?

Global Freshwater Share: India is home to nearly 18% of the world’s population but has only 4% of its freshwater resources.

Agricultural Dependency: India’s high dependency on water for agriculture is highlighted by two different sources: FAO estimates 90% of the water is used in farming, while India’s Central Water Commission suggests it’s 78%.

Irrigation Status: Almost half of India’s gross cropped area is currently irrigated. The aim is to increase this to 75% to handle weather uncertainties due to climate change.

Economic Constraints: Investments in water management are challenging because of extensive subsidies; the government already spends over Rs 4 lakh crore on food and fertilisers.

Water Management Strategy: The emphasis is on both water storage during monsoons and efficient use across crops. There’s a need for reforms in water and power pricing for irrigation.

What should India’s water strategy be?

Buffer Stocking: Augment buffer stocking of water during the monsoon season in reservoirs.

Groundwater Recharge: Focus on recharging groundwater through structures like check dams and watersheds.

Demand Management: Work on rational allocation and efficient water use across various crops.

Institutional Reforms: Implement reforms in the irrigation sector, especially concerning the pricing of water and power for irrigation.

Increase Irrigated Land: Aim to irrigate at least 75% of the gross cropped area to manage the uncertainties of climate change.

Private Investment: Address the challenge of attracting private investments in reservoirs and canal networks by considering the pricing of water.

Shift Focus: Prioritize water productivity, as seen in the Punjab example where land productivity is high for rice but water productivity is low.