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Estimating the potential of rainfed agriculture in India: Prospects for water productivity improvements

Author

Listed:
  • Sharma, Bharat R.
  • Rao, K.V.
  • Vittal, K.P.R.
  • Ramakrishna, Y.S.
  • Amarasinghe, U.

Abstract

A detailed district and agro-ecoregional level study comprising the 604 districts of India was undertaken to (i) identify dominant rainfed districts for major rainfed crops, (ii) make a crop-specific assessment of the surplus runoff water available for water harvesting and the irrigable area, (iii) estimate the efficiency of regional rain water use and incremental production due to supplementary irrigation for different crops, and (iv) conduct a preliminary economic analysis of water harvesting/supplemental irrigation to realize the potential of rainfed agriculture. A climatic water balance analysis of 225 dominant rainfed districts provided information on the possible surplus runoff during the year and the cropping season. On a potential (excluding very arid and wet areas) rainfed cropped area of 28.5millionha, a surplus rainfall of 114billionm3 (Bm3) was available for harvesting. A part of this amount of water is adequate to provide one turn of supplementary irrigation of 100mm depth to 20.65Mha during drought years and 25.08Mha during normal years. Water used in supplemental irrigation had the highest marginal productivity and increase in rainfed production above 12% was achievable even under traditional practices. Under improved management, an average increase of 50% in total production can be achieved with a single supplemental irrigation. Water harvesting and supplemental irrigation are economically viable at the national level. Net benefits improved by about threefold for rice, fourfold for pulses and sixfold for oilseeds. Droughts have very mild impacts on productivity when farmers are equipped with supplemental irrigation.

Suggested Citation

  • Sharma, Bharat R. & Rao, K.V. & Vittal, K.P.R. & Ramakrishna, Y.S. & Amarasinghe, U., 2010. "Estimating the potential of rainfed agriculture in India: Prospects for water productivity improvements," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 97(1), pages 23-30, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:agiwat:v:97:y:2010:i:1:p:23-30
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    2. Wakchaure, G.C. & Minhas, P.S. & Ratnakumar, P. & Choudhary, R.L., 2016. "Optimising supplemental irrigation for wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and the impact of plant bio-regulators in a semi-arid region of Deccan Plateau in India," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 172(C), pages 9-17.
    3. Birthal, P.S. & Negi, Digvijay S. & Kumar, Shiv & Aggarwal, Shaily & Suresh, A. & Khan, Md. Tajuddin, 2014. "How Sensitive is Indian Agriculture to Climate Change?," Indian Journal of Agricultural Economics, Indian Society of Agricultural Economics, vol. 69(4), pages 1-14.
    4. Upali A. Amarasinghe & R.P. S. Malik & Bharat R. Sharma, 2010. "Overcoming growing water scarcity: Exploring potential improvements in water productivity in India," Natural Resources Forum, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 34(3), pages 188-199, August.
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    7. Luo, Wanqi & Chen, Mengting & Kang, Yinhong & Li, Wenping & Li, Dan & Cui, Yuanlai & Khan, Shahbaz & Luo, Yufeng, 2022. "Analysis of crop water requirements and irrigation demands for rice: Implications for increasing effective rainfall," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 260(C).
    8. Kun Cheng & Qiang Fu & Tianxiao Li & Qiuxiang Jiang & Wei Liu, 2015. "Regional food security risk assessment under the coordinated development of water resources," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 78(1), pages 603-619, August.
    9. Mahmood, A. & Oweis, T. & Ashraf, M. & Majid, A. & Aftab, M. & Aadal, N.K. & Ahmad, I., 2015. "Performance of improved practices in farmers’ fields under rainfed and supplemental irrigation systems in a semi-arid area of Pakistan," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 155(C), pages 1-10.
    10. Datta, Nirupam, 2015. "Evaluating Impacts of Watershed Development Program on Agricultural Productivity, Income, and Livelihood in Bhalki Watershed of Bardhaman District, West Bengal," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 66(C), pages 443-456.
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    15. Waqas, Muhammad Sohail & Bayabil, Haimanote K. & Hailegnaw, Niguss Solomon & Hussain, Saddam & Tariq, Aqil & Abubakar, Saqib, 2025. "Drought mitigation and livelihood improvement options through rainwater harvesting structures in a rainfed agricultural system," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 230(C).
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    18. Saudamini Das, "undated". "Evaluating the Role of Media in Averting Heat Stroke Mortality: A Daily Panel Data Analysis," Working papers 102, The South Asian Network for Development and Environmental Economics.

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