A death that spotlights irrigation problems, Pg9

• Kailash Arun Nagare’s suicide (2025) highlights the irrigation crisis and unequal water access in India.

  • India has the highest global water usage in agriculture, but inequity in irrigation access is stark.

  • Over 80% of India’s water withdrawal goes to agriculture, yet distribution is skewed.

  • Groundwater exploitation is rising, with 17% of blocks ‘over-exploited’.

  • Marginalised groups, especially women, bear the brunt of water insecurity and resource decline.

  • Water productivity (IWP) in key agricultural states like Punjab and Tamil Nadu is poor despite high crop yields.

  • Irrigation inefficiencies contribute to 8-11% of India’s GHG emissions.

Detailed Insights:

• The expansion of irrigation has been spatially unequal, concentrated in water-intensive crops in arid zones.

  • India uses 688 BCM annually for farm irrigation — the highest globally.

  • According to Nature Water (2024), India’s unsustainable irrigation expansion (2000–2015) was responsible for 36% of global overuse.

  • Misaligned cropping patterns (e.g., water-intensive rice, sugarcane in dry zones) worsen water stress and emissions.

  • Groundwater irrigation, increasingly used due to failing canal systems, is causing aquifer depletion and energy inefficiency.

  • Policies have reinforced regional inequalities, as better-governed states or wealthier farmers access water more easily.

  • Energy subsidies promote excessive pumping, with Punjab and Tamil Nadu showing lowest irrigation efficiency despite high productivity.

Scientific/Technical Concepts Involved:

• Irrigation Water Productivity (IWP): Yield of crop per unit of irrigation water applied.

  • GHG emissions from irrigation: Result from energy used in groundwater extraction and rice flooding.

  • Micro-irrigation: Includes drip and sprinkler systems, promoting water-use efficiency.

Significance:

• Water scarcity in India is not just physical but economic and governance-driven, leading to inequitable access.

  • Marginalised farmers face systemic exclusion, further deepened by climate impacts on water tables.

  • Future strategies must focus on:

    • Water-saving irrigation technologies

    • Improved crop-water alignment

    • Participatory, decentralised irrigation governance

    • Solar irrigation and rainwater harvesting can provide sustainable alternatives but must be regulated to prevent overuse.

Mains Mock Question:

Irrigation inefficiency in India is as much a governance issue as it is a technical one. Discuss the multifaceted nature of India’s irrigation crisis and suggest sustainable solutions to ensure equitable water distribution in agriculture.