Water Productivity Mapping of Major Indian Crops

Abstract

This study on Water Productivity Mapping of Major Indian Crops explores two primary questions: Are the existing cropping patterns in India in line with the natural water resource endowments of various regions? Are these cropping patterns sustainable from a water-use perspective? The broad findings of the study indicate that there are regions in India which are heading towards unsustainable agriculture with highly skewed distribution of water for certain crops. Rice in Punjab and sugarcane in Maharashtra are classic examples of highly inefficient, iniquitous, and unsustainable use of water resources. The report presents for the first time, maps on the water productivity of ten major Indian crops across cultivating districts and states. It builds on the expectation that if key decisions regarding irrigation, cropping patterns, input pricing, and incentive structures are predicated on water productivity of crops, it would ensure that water in agriculture is distributed more widely, water-use efficiency is enhanced, and Indian agriculture becomes more sustainable and productive in the long run. Thus, the study seeks to inform targeted policies and investment interventions for meeting the twin objectives of har khet ko pani (water to every field) and ‘more crop per drop’.