Subject: Indian Geography

The Indo-Gangetic Plain, often called India's breadbasket, is facing an unprecedented crisis of groundwater depletion, threatening the nation's food security and agricultural sustainability.

Current Status of Groundwater Depletion

• The UN reports indicate that several regions in the Indo-Gangetic basin have crossed the groundwater depletion tipping point, with a declining trend of 2.6 centimeters annually in the Ganga basin.

• The northwestern region is projected to face critically low groundwater availability by 2025, impacting agricultural productivity and food production.

• States like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar are experiencing annual groundwater level drops of 2-3 meters, severely affecting water-intensive crop cultivation.

Impact on Food Security

• Crop Yield Reduction:

  • Water scarcity has led to up to 30% lower yields for staple crops in Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.
  • Major crops affected include rice, wheat, and maize, which form the backbone of India's food security.

• Agricultural Sustainability:

  • Insufficient supply of staple grains will potentially escalate the prices and threaten dietary security for vulnerable populations.
  • Farmers are forced to invest more in deeper borewells, increasing the cost of cultivation.
  • Overextraction of groundwater can cause soil salinization and alkalinity, reducing land fertility and further constraining agricultural productivity in the long term

• Food Production Challenges:

  • Erratic rainfall patterns coupled with groundwater depletion create uncertainty in crop production.
  • The situation threatens India's self-sufficiency in food grain production.

Mitigation Measures and Way Forward

• Implementation of crop diversification initiatives using scientific methods like Herfindahl-Hirschman Index (HHI).

• Promote Efficient Irrigation: Widespread adoption of drip and sprinkler irrigation can reduce agricultural water demand by up to 40%.

• Adoption of climate-resilient agricultural practices and drought-resistant crop varieties.

The groundwater crisis in the Gangetic valley requires immediate attention through integrated approaches like Atal Bhujal Yojana and National Water Mission to ensure sustainable agriculture and food security for future generations. Success stories like Gujarat's water conservation model and Israel's drip irrigation technology can provide valuable lessons for implementation.