Need to develop working model for efficient irrigation by using groundwater
Addressing the 2nd Edition of the ‘National Summit on Investing in future through sustainable water use and management in agriculture’, organized by FICCI, Dr Alka Bhargava,Additional Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, Government of India said that it is now time for us to get into the cross sectoral synergy and take the issue of increasing water use efficiency forward. “Increase in demand and productivity needs to be done within the consideration of sustainable use of natural resources, most important among which is water. This scenario becomes more complex as 86 per cent of our farmers are small and marginal. There needs to be a focus on the targeted approach of increasing efficiency through micro irrigation and change of cropping patterns in regard to agro climatic conditions”.
Dr Alka Bhargava, said that 90 per cent of the global food production increase required by 2050 is projected to take place in developing countries. “Land being finite, improved productivity in developing countries will be the key to ensuring food security and nutrition. All this becomes even more important as we get close to our SDG commitments,” she said.
She emphasised on the focus of efficient use of water in areas under canal irrigation that will not only increase crop productivity but will also increase its availability over large areas of land. “We are talking with the Department of Jal Shakti as to how micro irrigation can give the last mile connectivity to canal area development. We need to develop a working model for efficient irrigation by using groundwater,” she added.
Further, Dr Bhargava spoke about building farmers’ database that has been taken up by the ministry. “PM Kisan database is being linked with digital land records. We are also making efforts at state level to give real-time advisories to farmers that will help them be better prepared in dealing with exigencies,” she said.
