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Groundwater depletion and coping strategies of farming communities in hard rock areas of southern peninsular India

Author

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  • Anantha K.H.

    (International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Andhra Pradesh, India)

  • K.V. Raju

    (Professor, the Centre for Ecological Economics and Natural Resources (CEENR), Institute for Social and Economic Change (ISEC), Bangalore, Karnataka, India)

Abstract

This study examines the impact and potential opportunities of groundwater irrigation on rural farm households. Focusing on the size and pattern of the groundwater economy in selected villages located in the hard rock areas of Karnataka, India, the paper argues that the groundwater economy is shrinking due to the depletion of this precious resource. Although investment in groundwater irrigation provides wealth-creating opportunities in addition to helping to meet consumption needs, more often than not, the ongoing need to drill for new wells to counteract severe depletion problems cuts into the investment returns and ultimately affects the pool of assets. Farmers have adopted several coping strategies to overcome the negative externalities of groundwater depletion in this region. Groundwater irrigation has the potential to be a more productive instrument for sustainable rural development in fragile eco-regions. But, in order to make investment in this area a viable option for rural livelihood enhancement, certain policy, institutional factors and other issues need to be addressed.

Suggested Citation

  • Anantha K.H. & K.V. Raju, 2010. "Groundwater depletion and coping strategies of farming communities in hard rock areas of southern peninsular India," Asia-Pacific Development Journal, United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), vol. 17(2), pages 119-144, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:unt:jnapdj:v:17:y:2010:i:2:p:119-144
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Kumar, M. Dinesh & Malla, A. K. & Tripathy, S. K., 2008. "Economic value of water in agriculture: comparative analysis of a water-scarce and water-rich region in India," Conference Papers h041895, International Water Management Institute.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Groundwater; farming communities; irrigation; economic development; India;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • O12 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Microeconomic Analyses of Economic Development
    • Q12 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Agriculture - - - Micro Analysis of Farm Firms, Farm Households, and Farm Input Markets
    • Q15 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Agriculture - - - Land Ownership and Tenure; Land Reform; Land Use; Irrigation; Agriculture and Environment
    • Q25 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Renewable Resources and Conservation - - - Water

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